Proos recall wording denied

Published 9:38 pm Monday, June 20, 2011

State Sen. John Proos

It appears state Sen. John Proos is safe from recall for now.

The Berrien County Elections Commission Monday denied the recall wording filed earlier this month against Proos, R-St. Joseph.

Berrien County Clerk Louise Stine, who is a member of the elections commission, said the wording was denied simply “due to lack of clarity.”

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

In an interview with the Star last week, Proos defended his decision to support Snyder’s budget.

“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.”

Stine said Lyn Earwood, the Gobles teacher who filed the recall wording, has not re-filed recall language yet.