KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Rep. Jon Hoadley says he offered an amendment to a bill passed last week that would prevent resigned and expelled representatives from running for their old seats.
Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, said the alternate legislation would still disallow resigned representatives from running, but would let constituents decide the fate of the expelled.
“If your voters send you back, we probably either made the wrong decision or we’re not being representative of your views,” Hoadley said. “However, if you run and lose, well, we probably got it right.”
He said it would have prevented possible abuses of power.
“We could, theoretically, expel someone for any reason,” Hoadley said. “It doesn’t have to be that they did something wrong or criminal.
The Senate will review the bill without the amendment after they complete their spring break.
The legislation comes after the resignation of former representatives Todd Courser, R-Lapeer, and the expulsion of Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell. Both were accused of using taxpayer resources to cover up their sexual relationship.
Both Courser and Gamrat ran for their old seats and lost.
