Their affair wasn’t the only problem

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/08/15/constituents-unhappy-courser-gamrat/31789737/
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While much has been written about the extramarital affair and alleged bizarre cover-up of the relationship between state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, their work life in Lansing and in their districts also is coming under increased scrutiny.

Both are conservative, tea party Republicans elected on a platform of Christian morality and family values. They invited controversy in the state Capitol early and often by challenging leadership on everything from their seating assignments to the state budget and the governor’s State of the State address.

They’ve both had almost perfect attendance records and cosponsored a couple of dozen bills, mostly espousing their conservative philosophy against abortion, easing gun regulations, eliminating taxes and allowing only clergy to perform marriages. But none of those bills has gotten a hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Gamrat got kicked out of the GOP caucus in April after posting on Facebook during private GOP caucus meetings. Courser stopped going to caucus meetings to show his support for Gamrat. They shared office resources and staff, and, as revealed in the last week, an intimate relationship.

But even before news of the affair and alleged cover-up surfaced, constituents in their districts — Courser is from Lapeer County and Gamrat hails from the west Michigan town of Plainwell — were unhappy with how the two were performing their jobs back home. They were used to highly involved lawmakers who were fixtures at community meetings and events. That mostly stopped when Courser and Gamrat took office.

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