Michigan Part-time Legislature Amendment (2008)

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The Part-time Legislature Initiative in Michigan is an initiated constitutional amendment that would limit state legislative sessions to less than four months, cut legislator salaries by $40,000, eliminate state-paid pensions and lifetime medical coverage, and institute fines of $400 per day for legislators' absences.

A second Michigan initiative—Turn Michigan Around amendment—would also turn Michigan's full-time legislature into a part-time one. That initiative would also end term limits for legislators; this one keeps term limits intact.

If both amendments were to be approved by voters, the amendment receiving the most votes would be enacted.


Contents

Details of the amendment

The amendment, if passed, would:

  • Limit regular annual sessions of the legislature, working from the second Wednesday in March until no later than July 1 each year. A maximum of 20 days per year would be available for special sessions that could be called by the governor. Committee work could be done between sessions, but lawmakers would participate and vote from their home districts.
  • Cut lawmaker salaries in half (from $79,650 to $40,000), limit legislators' expense accounts, and eliminate state-paid pensions or lifetime medical coverage for legislators.
  • Fine lawmakers $400 a day for absences, to be deducted from their salaries.
  • Eliminate the Officeholders Compensation Commission, requiring the legislature to set all salaries out in the open and right before November elections.
  • Require the Governor to submit a balanced budget on time or face censure.


Supporters

Greg Schmid, an attorney in the Saginaw area, submitted and obtained approval for ballot language from the Board of Canvassers.

Allan Schmid, Greg's father and an attorney as well, is also supporting the amendment. He believes it is the better of the two part-time legislature proposals, partly because it keeps term limits in place. Allan wrote the ballot initiative that first enacted term limits in 1992. "I think it's working better now than it ever has," he said.

"We are totally out of step with the rest of the country," Allan added. "We are in step with all other states that have full-time legislature in that we have the highest paid legislature in country, the highest tax rates in the country and one of the most inefficient governments in the country."[1] Michigan is one of only four states with a full-time legislature.

The Schmids are also sponsoring a second initiative for Michigan's November 2008 ballot. That proposal, known as People's Choice Tax Repeal Amendment, would require a referendum on any proposed tax hike.[2]


Opponents

The Committee to Turn Michigan Around, an initiative of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Home Builders Association fo Greater Kalamazoo, is supporting an alternate plan for creating a part-time legislature. The primary difference between the proposed amendments is that this one leaves legislative term limits intact, while the Turn Michigan Around Amendment would abolish legislative term limits.


Status

Petitions for the initiative are currently being circulated.[3] Proponents must collect at least 380,126 valid signatures by July 7, 2008, to be placed on the November 2008 ballot.


See also


External links


References

  1. ↑ Capitol News Service: "Voters get final say on issues - maybe twice," Feb. 22, 2008
  2. ↑ Capitol News Service: "Voters get final say on issues - maybe twice," Feb. 22, 2008
  3. ↑ Detroit Free Press: "Universal health care petition drive approved," Dec. 19, 2007


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