Michigan state representative Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) wants to be Michigan Secretary of State. He promises to deny gender changes on state driver's licenses under any circumstances.

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/01/rep_paul_scott_blows_smoke_on_transgender_michigan.php

Why is this such a big deal to this twit?

If the percentage of the population who are TS is less than 5%, and the number of Licences in Michigan,(according to info on the net) is around 7 million, then there are probably no more than 100,000 or so people affected. 

Surely there are more important things to consider regarding driving in his State than this?
I understand the Police in the US can't do random Breath Tests to detect drivers who are a threat to the lives of his constituents. Why doesn't he push for that and actually achieve something useful?

because random breath tests are too high a possibility for harassment.

Not here they are not.  Every van crew has to do 20 per shift. You'd be surprised how many mothers get caught going to pick their kids up from school for instance.  The road toll in Victoria pop ~3 million, dropped from over 1000 a year to around 300 with the introduction of compulsory seat belts and random breath tests (.05).

But, that would take political will and a bit of courage. Nothing courageous about picking on a minority, and not likely to lose his seat.

He cares b/c the state is falling apart; it's on the verge of bankruptcy, suffering massive deficits, there's a huge exodus of skilled labor, there's hardly any jobs for the educated, and there's little hope for improvement in the immediate future...

What always works best for politicians in those situations???

Find a minority scape-goat and completely deride them.

Sorry, I didn't realise he was trying a bigotry-led recovery!!

I am probably being unfair accusing him of the old politacal tactic of smoke and mirrors. There are probably a few bells and whistles involved too for his backers.

Interestingly, Paul Scott is black. I guess he doesn't do irony.

When I did the calculation I used the figure of 5% of the population, which has been suggested by some researchers.  If the older figure of one in 30,000, he is talking about 230 people in a State of 10 million.

Has anyone asked him "how small does a minority have to be before it is ok to persecute them?"

I can only conclude that these 200 or so people must be extremely powerful if they are so feared by this....politician!
It's interesting that you point out he is black, I seriously thought he must have been a closet KKK member.