A recall effort has begun against State Sen. John Proos, but the freshman senator is not surprised and is sticking to his guns.

Berrien County Chief Deputy Clerk Frank Sampsel confirmed Wednesday that recall language against Proos, R-St. Joseph, was filed earlier this month.

Proos, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Fred Upton and state House representative for six years, is facing the recall for supporting Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget plan. Part of the plan includes business tax breaks and making up for it with taxes on state retiree pensions.

The recall language, filed by Gobles teacher Lyn Earwood, reads: “John Proos did on May 12, 2011 vote in favor of HB 4361, which will mean a tax reduction of up to $1.78 billion per year for business taxpayers while at the same time imposing an estimated $330 million in new taxes upon the pensions of individual residents. The senator’s vote also prevented the income tax rate from being reduced for the year 2012.”

Proos said he is not too surprised by the recall effort and is one of about 12 state senators facing a potential recall vote.

“Certainly the last decade has been a horrible time for Michigan,” he said. “Change is difficult and hard, so some have chosen to exercise their Constitutional right to seek to remove me from office.”

Proos said he still supports the governor’s budget proposal, arguing it will help cut down on the state’s $1.5 billion deficit.

“These are tough decisions without question,” he said. “But it’s time to start living within our means and spending only what we expect in revenue from the taxpayers.”

A clarity hearing to determine whether the recall effort can move forward is slated for 10 a.m. Monday at the county courthouse in St. Joseph. If a committee, composed of Clerk Louise Stine, Treasurer Bret Witkowski and Chief Probate Judge Alfred Butzbaugh, approves the wording, recall supporters will have to collect the necessary signatures in a 90-day period within six months of approval to have a recall election put on the ballot.

Sampsel was unsure of the exact number of signatures needed but said it would be more than 11,000.