Michigan Votes Forum

Senator Cropsey’s statement is as follows:

I urge the body not to discharge the committee. To try to inject blatant political partisanship into the serious deliberations that are going on at this time is absolutely unconscionable. The maker of the motion and the speaker to this motion ought to be ashamed of themselves for trying to do such blatant political partisanship acts. I am just appalled and offended that this would even come up at this time.

If the previous speaker wants to cut her staff and deny her people their representation, fine; then that is her right to do so. She can go back and she can fire them all. As for me, I am going to make sure that my staff is going to be doing what needs to be done in order to best represent the people of this state and the people in the four counties that I represent.

I take offense at the way this was done. I take offense that this partisan move is being made when we are all trying to come together and say what is best for the people of this state. This is nothing more than blatant political partisanship, and it’s most extreme and at its worst.

Senator Whitmer’s statement is as follows:

This chamber is about to recess for two weeks, so it is urgent that we take some action before we leave town. I’m rising to speak to the urgency and the necessity of the discharge motion on Senate Resolution No. 15. Now just last week, I saw a lot of people in this chamber patting themselves on the back saying we took a pay cut. The truth is, we didn’t take a pay cut; we forced a pay cut on the next Legislature.

It is urgent that we balance our budget. It is urgent that we tell the people of the state of Michigan that we get it. We are not here in some ivory tower. We understand the pain that people are feeling. It is urgent that we act now. Is $3 million a lot of money in a $42 billion budget? No. It is symbolic, but in times of crisis, symbols matter. It is time for the Legislature to take action. It is urgent that we take action, and that is why this discharge is necessary today.

Senate Resolution No. 15 is immediate. It can cut $3 million out of the Senate budget today. How do you do that? Well, you treat all legislators equally. I know that is a unique thing in this chamber, but if you are a Republican, it is time for you to cinch your belt a little tighter and serve the same number of constituents that we Democrats represent.

I am explaining to the chamber the urgency here. It is urgent that we show the people of Michigan that we get it. When they see us leave for two weeks, they are going to say, “They are on vacation? Are you kidding me?” It is urgent that we show we have done something to balance the budget. It is urgent that we act. It is urgent that we treat all people in the state of Michigan equally. It is urgent that you cut your budgets by $100,000 and serve your constituents on the same budgets we do. It is urgent that we put this information on the website, so that people can see that there really is transparency in government. They don’t just talk about it; they are going to do it. It is urgent that we do this immediately, which is what this resolution accomplishes and why it is so important that we discharge this today. I ask for your support.

Senator Cropsey, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the motion to discharge the Committee on Government Operations and Reform from further consideration of Senate Resolution No. 15 and moved that the statement he made during the discussion of the motion be printed as his reasons for voting “no.”

The motion prevailed.

Senator Cropsey’s statement is as follows:

I would hope that we would not do a discharge on this very, very partisan resolution today. Today, in front of the Senate we are going to do the Hire Michigan First legislation. It just seems that every time we get legislation that is going to come up to help the people of this state that the current administration said they would do by executive order and did issue one several years ago but have failed, evidently, to implement it, we get a member from the other side of the aisle putting up some sort of resolution that says she wants openness in government.

Well, I would suggest that maybe she walk across the rotunda and tell the Speaker of the House to equalize everyone’s budget over there. I would suggest that maybe she go to Washington, D.C., where the Democrats have total dictatorial powers and suggest to them that maybe they ought to start playing fair and not do partisanship.

I don’t think there is the urgency to take this up today because, certainly, the person who just spoke to this resolution could go to Washington D.C., to tell the Democrats to get their own house in order and stop playing partisan political games. I would think that she would set the example and have her party set the example, and then she might have a little more credence in this body when she comes up with these sorts of resolutions or offers to try and make sure that things are done properly here in the Senate.

As I have stated before, things are done properly here in the Senate. When you have Senators as committee chairmen, they have extra staff in order to take care of the work of the people of this state. I think the other side of the aisle knows perfectly well that that is what is going on, and they are just trying to make political hay on a very important day when we have so many other items to take up to try and get Michigan back on track as far as our jobs situation is concerned. I am just amazed at the delaying tactics that the other side of the aisle is using in trying to prohibit us from voting on the Hire Michigan First legislation.

Senator Thomas’ statement is as follows:

I rise in support of the motion to discharge. While I know that there are a number of members in this chamber who are running for the United States Congress, none of us are actually elected to serve there so we are faced with the question: “What can we do in our capacity as members of the Michigan Senate?” Well, responsible members of the Michigan Senate can end the disparity that exists and save state troopers and save the state $3.5 million by ending the disparate funding that exists between majority Senators who represent the same number of constituents that I do in the minority. I see no reason why the Senator from Kentwood should have more money to represent this need as the Senator from the city of Detroit. That just doesn’t make sense. Are my constituents any different? I don’t think so.

Further, it was suggested that the House should act on itself. Well, the House already has acted, and the disparity that exists there is about $200,000 for 110 members, and out of our 37 members, $3.5 million. That, to me, sounds outrageous. It sounds like crocodile tears being cried on the other side.

So, if we are really responsible, if we really want to do more than lip service, if we want to stand up and support public safety in Michigan and say that all citizens in Michigan are equal, then we should support this motion to discharge and equalize the budget between all members of the Michigan Senate.

Senator Whitmer’s statement is as follows:

I rise to speak in favor of the discharge motion and its urgency. I originally drafted Senate Resolution No.15 to equalize Senate budgets blind to party and to be listed on line in the spirit of equity, fairness, thrift, and transparency—laudable goals by any public servant’s standards, especially so in tough economic times.

I am once again calling for action on that resolution because we have to do everything in our power to tighten our belts. Certainly, you Republicans can serve and operate your office budgets on the same amount in which we Democrats serve our constituents. We would save $100,000 that you give yourselves just for being in the majority. In doing so, we—just the Senate, mind you—could single-handedly save the State Police troopers who were cut in the executive order less than 48 hours ago. Single-handedly—no need to wait on the House. No need to wait on the Executive Branch. We can take action today and save the troopers and finally put some equity, transparency, and thrift into our own Senate budget.

The importance of public safety should always trump cushy office budgets. The GOP can play partisan politics all it wants and claim to the victors go the spoils. But partisanship when public safety is on the line? For some rural communities, this is their public safety. These are challenging times, and the Senate should show some leadership and step up on behalf of public safety in the state of Michigan.

I have the substitute right here, right now. So let’s discharge this resolution, amend it with this substitute, and save the troopers today. We can do this today, and it is urgent that we take action today. I ask you to do the right thing and vote in favor of this discharge motion.