"Mrs. Granholm, tare down that legislative wall!"
Cut Legislature down to part-time size: "How can Michigan taxpayers justify the cost of our full-time Legislature, one of only four such lawmaking bodies in the nation?"
An e-mail sent to me outlined this glorious quest:
Attorney and business owner, Henry Woloson, from Clarkston, MI, is heading a movement to place a proposal on the 2008 ballot for a part-time legislature in Michigan.
Some facts he provided:
1 - 46 states have part-time legislatures.
2 - Michigan has 148 full-time legislators.
3 - Michigan has 23% more legislators than California . We have a population
Of 10 million. California 's is 36 million.
4 - California is the only state in the US that pays its lawmakers more than
Michigan.
5 - $115 million-plus is allocated each year for the operation of the
Legislature. This does not include lifetime health benefits for former legislators.
Under the new proposal:
1 - Legislative sessions would be limited to 90 days between Jan. 1 and April 30 each year.
2 - Special sessions could be called - no additional compensation.
3 - Elimination of lifetime benefits for legislators.
4 - Freezing salaries pending later review.
5 - Downsizing from 148 members to 100 members. (75 representative and 25 Senators)
6 - Estimated annual savings - more than $30 million.
Other current considerations:
1 - Extending term limits to 12 years for voters who value legislative Experience.
2 - Having terms of both representative and senators be 4 years with 1/2 of Each group standing for election every 2 years.
Quote: " Michigan needs our state government to become more productive and less Expensive with greater accountability. We hope concerned Michigan citizens Will support our efforts to let the voters decide if they wish to join the Vast majority of states effectively operating with a part-time legislature."
GordoM-likes-lean-and-mean
Cut Legislature down to part-time size: "How can Michigan taxpayers justify the cost of our full-time Legislature, one of only four such lawmaking bodies in the nation?"
An e-mail sent to me outlined this glorious quest:
Attorney and business owner, Henry Woloson, from Clarkston, MI, is heading a movement to place a proposal on the 2008 ballot for a part-time legislature in Michigan.
Some facts he provided:
1 - 46 states have part-time legislatures.
2 - Michigan has 148 full-time legislators.
3 - Michigan has 23% more legislators than California . We have a population
Of 10 million. California 's is 36 million.
4 - California is the only state in the US that pays its lawmakers more than
Michigan.
5 - $115 million-plus is allocated each year for the operation of the
Legislature. This does not include lifetime health benefits for former legislators.
Under the new proposal:
1 - Legislative sessions would be limited to 90 days between Jan. 1 and April 30 each year.
2 - Special sessions could be called - no additional compensation.
3 - Elimination of lifetime benefits for legislators.
4 - Freezing salaries pending later review.
5 - Downsizing from 148 members to 100 members. (75 representative and 25 Senators)
6 - Estimated annual savings - more than $30 million.
Other current considerations:
1 - Extending term limits to 12 years for voters who value legislative Experience.
2 - Having terms of both representative and senators be 4 years with 1/2 of Each group standing for election every 2 years.
Quote: " Michigan needs our state government to become more productive and less Expensive with greater accountability. We hope concerned Michigan citizens Will support our efforts to let the voters decide if they wish to join the Vast majority of states effectively operating with a part-time legislature."
GordoM-likes-lean-and-mean
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