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| State Rep. Jamie Thompson |
By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Michigan law requires the legislature to pass a state budget before July 1st---but there are currently no consequences for lawmakers if they don't.
State Rep. Jamie Thompson of Brownstown wants to change that.
Under Thompson's proposal, a Constitutional amendment called Joint Resolution M, if a budget wasn't in place by the July 1st legal deadline, the paychecks for members of the House and Senate---as well as the Governor---would be suspended.
“Unfortunately, we have seen an irresponsible, reckless budget plan in the Senate that relies on taxpayers to foot the bill for more unsustainable spending increases and doesn’t address people’s most pressing needs like local roads and public safety,” Thompson said. “If pay was on the line for elected officials, there sure as heck would be more urgency. People would be seeing that cutoff date. Deals would be happening, and I have a great deal of confidence that the Legislature would fulfill its responsibility to get a balanced budget done so people could have clarity.”
Despite receiving 70 yes votes, the bill fell short of the 74 required to get the 2/3 needed for a Constitutional amendment---all because the overwhelming majority of House Dems voted against it.
“A number of Democrats voted to maintain their own financial certainty while many families, students, school officials, corrections staff and law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe are left hung out to dry,” Thompson said. “Ultimately, people are done with the games. They want to see responsible governing and plans that use their tax dollars wisely. If legislators can’t get that done by the July 1 date laid out in law, people’s tax dollars shouldn’t be going to legislators.”
“This vote is the smoking gun that proves Democrats in Lansing were not committed to working with us to pass and finalize a budget,” said State Rep. Brian BeGole of Antrim Township. “They have been stoking fears of a potential government shutdown for months and have obstructed and delayed this process several times."
Begole says Democrats have proven they care more about their own paychecks than the people they're supposed to represent.
“This plan took the extraordinary step of cutting off pay for legislators, including my own," Begole said. "If every Republican who voted on this in the House is willing to do that, including myself, it shows a commitment to being accountable to taxpayers and people throughout our state if a budget isn’t done by the July 1 deadline. It’s a shame many Democrats disagreed and voted no. They were more concerned about continuing to receive a paycheck than fulfilling their duty to people they serve, and that’s not right.”
State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz of Jackson backed Thompson's amendment.
“Families need certainty. Parents want to know how their children’s schools will be funded. Seniors rely on health programs. Communities count on public safety resources. When the budget isn’t finished on time, it’s everyday people who are left in limbo,” Schmaltz said. “If legislators can’t meet the deadline, we shouldn’t expect to collect a paycheck. Our focus should be on finishing the job for the people who sent us here.”
Under Thompson's proposal, a Constitutional amendment called Joint Resolution M, if a budget wasn't in place by the July 1st legal deadline, the paychecks for members of the House and Senate---as well as the Governor---would be suspended.
“Unfortunately, we have seen an irresponsible, reckless budget plan in the Senate that relies on taxpayers to foot the bill for more unsustainable spending increases and doesn’t address people’s most pressing needs like local roads and public safety,” Thompson said. “If pay was on the line for elected officials, there sure as heck would be more urgency. People would be seeing that cutoff date. Deals would be happening, and I have a great deal of confidence that the Legislature would fulfill its responsibility to get a balanced budget done so people could have clarity.”
Despite receiving 70 yes votes, the bill fell short of the 74 required to get the 2/3 needed for a Constitutional amendment---all because the overwhelming majority of House Dems voted against it.
“A number of Democrats voted to maintain their own financial certainty while many families, students, school officials, corrections staff and law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe are left hung out to dry,” Thompson said. “Ultimately, people are done with the games. They want to see responsible governing and plans that use their tax dollars wisely. If legislators can’t get that done by the July 1 date laid out in law, people’s tax dollars shouldn’t be going to legislators.”
“This vote is the smoking gun that proves Democrats in Lansing were not committed to working with us to pass and finalize a budget,” said State Rep. Brian BeGole of Antrim Township. “They have been stoking fears of a potential government shutdown for months and have obstructed and delayed this process several times."
Begole says Democrats have proven they care more about their own paychecks than the people they're supposed to represent.
“This plan took the extraordinary step of cutting off pay for legislators, including my own," Begole said. "If every Republican who voted on this in the House is willing to do that, including myself, it shows a commitment to being accountable to taxpayers and people throughout our state if a budget isn’t done by the July 1 deadline. It’s a shame many Democrats disagreed and voted no. They were more concerned about continuing to receive a paycheck than fulfilling their duty to people they serve, and that’s not right.”
State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz of Jackson backed Thompson's amendment.
“Families need certainty. Parents want to know how their children’s schools will be funded. Seniors rely on health programs. Communities count on public safety resources. When the budget isn’t finished on time, it’s everyday people who are left in limbo,” Schmaltz said. “If legislators can’t meet the deadline, we shouldn’t expect to collect a paycheck. Our focus should be on finishing the job for the people who sent us here.”
State Rep. Cam Cavitt of Cheboygan County says he is is willing to bet that suspending pay would have Senate Dems singing a different tune.
“The deadline to pass a state budget was nearly a month ago now, and I’ll never forget sitting at my desk and looking out the window to see members of the Michigan Senate walking to their cars just after five on the July 1 deadline,” Cavitt said. “House Republicans were in Lansing, ready to get a bipartisan deal done for the people. Passing a state budget is our most important job as legislators. Yet, state senators still threw up their hands and gave up. Instead, those same Senators are still collecting fat government checks while schools and critical services are put increasingly at risk for next year with every passing day. I bet a state budget would get done real quick if someone put a stop payment on those checks.”
Speaker Of The House Matt Hall says it's important Lansing politicians face personal consequences if they won't do their jobs.
“Legislators have to have skin in the game in order to get the budget done," Hall said. "This will force the politicians to have the urgency to do it instead of jerking everyone around for months and months and months and walking away, like the Democrats did."
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