LANSING – A bipartisan group of legislators today introduced a constitutional amendment that will require the state's budget to be balanced by July 1 on any given year. Under the plan, Michigan's Senators and Representatives will lose pay for every day the budget remains unbalanced after the deadline.
"Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay legislators who don't get the job done," said State Representative Mike Huckleberry (D-Greenville). "We all took an oath of office to serve the people of Michigan and to always put their interests first. If legislators can't balance the budget in time to avoid a government shutdown, then they shouldn't get paid."
Michigan legislators have a constitutional obligation to balance the state's budget by Oct. 1. Under the plan introduced today, that deadline will be moved to July 1 to ensure the budget is balanced in a timely manner. For every day after the new July 1 deadline that the budget is not balanced, lawmakers will be docked pay.
The Legislature's failure to enact a balanced budget endangers Michigan's ability to educate our kids, provide health care for our children and seniors, keep firefighters and police on the streets and provide other essential services that residents and communities rely on.
Since coming to the House in January, the lawmakers sponsoring this plan have continually worked to reform Michigan's government and return it to the people, where it belongs.
"In the real world if you don't do your work, you don't get paid," said State Representative Dan Scripps (D-Leland). "Legislators should be no different. This plan will help bring fresh air to Lansing and make sure elected officials are truly working on behalf of Michigan's residents."