LANSING – State Representative Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) today announced that he plans to introduce legislation to end the practice of taxpayer-financed cars for the use of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges and their staffers.
"In the midst of our unprecedented budget crisis, Michigan taxpayers are not in a position to shell out $400,000 so that judges and their staff will have cars to use for shopping trips, personal errands and even vacations," Corriveau said. "Just like any other public servants in our state, they should be required to pay for their own vehicles. We simply cannot afford to give them a free ride."
Corriveau noted that judges are paid enough to afford to buy their own cars. According to a report in the April 8 Detroit Free Press, the state's seven Supreme Court judges are each paid $164,610 per year. The state's 28 judges on the Court of Appeals are each paid $151,441. Corriveau said that while other high-ranking government officials are allowed the use of state cars, they are only allowed to use their cars for business and commuting.
Corriveau also pointed out that taxpayer-funded vehicles are not guaranteed for top judges elsewhere. Supreme Court and appellate court judges in neighboring states such as Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana do not get them. Not even federal judges, appointed for life, are entitled to use a publicly financed car.
"It isn't right to ask taxpayers, who are already struggling to make ends meet, to make more sacrifices so judges can ride in comfort," said State Representative Mike Simpson (D-Liberty Township). "The time has come to end this unfair practice of requiring residents to pay for judges' personal vehicles."