An unofficial online petition proposing the recall of Gov. Sam Brownback has been sweeping the state since Feb. 1. The petition so far has collected 34,453 signatures.
The originator behind the petition is Iolan Tony Piazza, a communications and theater instructor at Allen Community College. Piazza said he created the petition out of frustration.
“I am frustrated with the way things have gone for Kansas,” he said. “Our choice was either sit around and watch the state slowly get dismantled or go and say something about it.”
Piazza said he wants to give his fellow Kansans a public platform that will hopefully change the state’s situation.
“I think a lot of people are not sure our voices are being heard by legislators,” he said. “And I’m not sure if the voters are aware what he’s done.”
Some of Piazza’s concerns are how Brownback has not endorsed expanding Medi-caid, depleted highway funds to the general budget, cut funds to education and social services and created a budget that is woefully underfunded.
“His role as governor is to lead his people and take care of all of them,” he said. “Brownback is supposedly pro business but he sends a terrible message to businesses who are considering coming to Kansas with a budget like ours.”
For this fiscal year, which ends June 30, Kansas is facing a budget deficit of $370 million. For fiscal year 2016, the state is behind $710 million in projected expenditures.
Massive income tax cuts to individuals and businesses have helped put the state in the red.
Piazza said these are not political issues, but common sense issues involving the basic rules of governing.
“We will deliver the petition to Brownback and email it to legislators in Kansas,” he said. “Hopefully, this will influence them to rework or reshape the way Brownback is taking the state.”
Piazza said he is well aware the recall process of a governor is extremely difficult but he wants to give the citizens of Kansas a public platform.
The petition can be found at MoveOn.org. In the search box type “Recall Sam Brownback.”
Piazza behind recall effort
