PROTECT TAXPAYER TRUST BY CHAMPIONING FISCAL TRANSPARENCY AND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS

Republican Michigan Rep. John James called out a local school board for censuring an elected trustee who blew the whistle on a secret plan to increase taxes.
Rochester Community Schools Board of Education Trustee Carol Beth Litkouhi sued the district on Feb. 3, the Detroit News reported, accusing the board of violating her First Amendment rights by censuring her and removing her from all committees after she publicly exposed the tax hike. James, who represents the district, appeared at a March 9 school board meeting to defend the ousted whistleblower.
“In the army, we had a saying, Mission first, people always. You cannot accomplish the mission working against the people you serve,” James said at the start of his speech, which he posted on X. “That’s exactly what’s happening in this school district.”