News from
THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      
Contact: Jason Moon
517-371-5410
July 31, 2007

Brewer Calls on Drolet to Sign Petition to Surrender Free Lifetime Health Care

Former State Representative enjoying 'perks' on taxpayer dime

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer today called on former lawmaker and so-called taxpayer advocate Leon Drolet to put the taxpayers' money where his mouth is and give up the free lifetime health care and other perks he receives on the taxpayer dime.

"Leon Drolet is leading his big pig all around the state, bellowing about the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars, when he's living high off the hog on the taxpayer dime himself," Brewer said. "His behavior is the height of hypocrisy. If Drolet wants to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, he will sign a pledge to forfeit the free lifetime health care he obtained during his six years as a Lansing politician."

Brewer presented a petition for Drolet to sign, stating that he would forgo his free lifetime health care and other perks.

During his six years as a State Representative, Drolet cost Michigan taxpayers $1.1 million, including more than $91,000 for mileage reimbursements and $72,000 for his "expense allowance" – in addition to the $477,900 spent on his salary.

Drolet currently serves on the Macomb County Commission, earning $34,069 a year. He also pays himself $39,000 as executive director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, a so-called taxpayer advocacy group. In recent months, Drolet has traveled across Michigan pushing his extremist agenda with a giant papier mache pig he calls "Mr. Perks."

"Mr. Perks certainly seems to have a sweet spot in his belly for Leon Drolet," Brewer said. "This is a man whose has made a living off our taxpayers for years. I challenge Drolet to change is ways and give back to the taxpayers who have been supporting him for years."

 Text of the petition:

I, Leon Drolet, do so solemnly swear to stop living high off the hog on Michigan taxpayers' dollars and begin atoning for the more than $1.1 million I have cost our taxpayers over the past six years. 

I pledge to put the taxpayers' money where my mouth is by surrendering the free lifetime health care – paid for by Michigan taxpayers – that I "earned" during my six years as a Lansing politician, because I firmly believe that "every dollar the government takes, that is doesn't absolutely need, is theft."

###
Paid for by the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 606 Townsend St., Lansing, MI  48933. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.