In Michigan, working for the governor's spouse has become a growth industry. Former First Lady Michelle Engler had only one staffer for most of the 12 years her husband held office, according to John Truscott, who was Gov. John Engler's spokesman.

Some have questioned why Michigan's First Gentleman needs a larger staff than the first spouses of New York or Illinois. Mr. Mulhern has described his staff as dedicated, hard-working state employees who bring value to Michigan taxpayers, but the public has no solid information about what those staffers do, or how residents benefit from this  expenditure of their tax dollars.

Under current law, the Governor's office, Legislature and Supreme Court are specifically exempt from Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Nevertheless, the legislature will provide details of salaries paid to the aides of Senators and Representatives. Executive branch departments are not exempt from FOIA and are required to provide any inquiring citizen with records documenting the compensation and work product of any state employee.

Given these precedents, it's not unreasonable for citizens to ask how their tax dollars are being used by an office that many would argue is an expensive luxury at a time when the First Gentleman's wife is seeking to extract $1.5 billion in tax increases from already stressed households and businesses. Therefore, I have submitted a written request to Governor Granholm, asking that she disclose the following information:

*    The total cost of the First Gentleman's staff.
*    How often these staff members showed up for work in Lansing.
*    What official government activities they perform, including the nature of their  work product.
*    Who these staffers called during work hours on government phones.

As mentioned, Gov. Granholm is vigorously lobbying for a massive tax hike, claiming that further spending cuts will devastate vital government services. The least she can do is to disclose to citizens how she is spending the tax dollars already flowing to her, in particular funds spent on behalf of an individual who holds no Constitutional office and has no official governmental role or responsibilities.