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1) part time legislature  by Anonymous Citizen on November 17, 2007 
I am in 100% support of a part time legislature, like many other states have. When you look at the amount of missed votes they have, it doesn't look like they work much anyway! If they were part time,they would have to be more in touch with Michiganders, because they would be around people on a weekly basis who actually know what it is like to work for a living! Unlike now, where they basically go around patting each other on the back or alternately fighting, collecting 80,000 per year or more and getting full retirement benefits after 6 years! Their salary should be figured every year based on the median salary in the state of Michigan...the exact middle. Then they should get the median benefit package. Then, there would be an incentive to actually work to solve Michigan's economic problems, instead of sitting around blaming each other like little babies. It's always someone else's fault, huh?
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2) Sen. Schauer's "journal statement"  by Admin003 on November 9, 2007 
Senator Schauer's statement is as follows:

Senator Tupac Hunter was excused earlier in today's session. He is in flight to a national leadership meeting, but he asked that I make a statement on his behalf about Senate Concurrent Resolution No.22. I will be reading this statement for the record for Senator Hunter.

He says, "I rise this morning to speak in support of the proposed reduction in legislative salaries. My only regret is that this opportunity did not present itself earlier in the budget process. Our job is to lead by example.

To not support this legislation reminds me of an old adage that authoritarian parents often used with their children that said, 'Do as I say and not as I do.' I believe it is time to follow the same precepts that we are asking of every resident of the state of Michigan. We are asking them to tighten their belts. We are asking them to be even more frugal. We are asking them to do more with less. How can we in good conscience refuse to do the same?

At a time when our state is facing one of the most challenging times in modern history, this is an opportunity to demonstrate true leadership. We must set an example and send a message to the people of the state of Michigan: We are in this crisis with you.

The last few months we have talked and talked about the need for everyone to pitch in and pay their part. It is time to walk the walk."

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3) Sen. Basham's "no vote explanation"  by Admin003 on November 9, 2007 
Senator Basham, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No.22 and moved that the statement he made during the discussion of the resolution be printed as his reasons for voting "no."

The motion prevailed.

Senator Basham's statement is as follows:

The previous speaker did not define "great deal of money." This is good political politics. The legislative body in this state has not received a raise in 12 years, gave themselves a 38 percent raise after 12 years, and then hasn't received a raise 10 years after that.

So this has actually been about a percent and a quarter a year going over the last 22 years. So 22 years, one and a quarter percent is not unreasonable. As a matter of fact, if you look at legislative pay compared to an assistant principal of a high school or a district court judge, it really is not a great deal of money. The legislative body should not be a body made up strictly of folks who are millionaires and come up here and dabble in state politics and then go back to their business. It should be about the everyday working man or woman who wants to come up here and serve and actually be compensated for it. Some people are actually--I personally have grandchildren, so I am okay. But this does not actually affect this legislative body, so is it okay for us to mess with the next legislative body just as we did with term limits. Be careful of what you ask for; you just might get it.

So when people don't want to leave in the middle of a career to come up here and serve in the legislative body; when they don't want to actually get fairly compensated for doing public service, you are going to get a group of folks who might be restricted who would otherwise. If a working man or woman wanted to come up here, there might be some incentive for them to come up here.

Again, this legislative pay, basically, we could probably be doing a better job in working together. I would agree with the other side of the aisle. We could find comprehensive solutions to the state's budget crisis. I would agree with the Governor on that one. This chamber, actually, should be working with the other chamber and the Governor dealing with those issues, but on this issue, I think it makes little sense.

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