Gubenatorial candidate Mike Bouchard has rolled out some of his campaign platform, calling for a part-time legislature and a restructuring of the government on the state level.
What all is included? Eliminating benefits and pensions for legislature, creating a two-year rolling budget, reducing term limits to 12 years, and having the legislature meet for 120 days every other year. I agree that our state government needs an overhaul, but these proposals are not the solution.
Having the legislature meet only every two years for 120 days brings some troubling questions to mind. First, how could anyone hold a regular job during the year spent in-session? When you factor in weekends and holidays, about 50% of the year would be spent in-session. The pay would reflect the part-time status, and there would be no benefits. With this system, it seems only the independently wealthy could serve as a legislator.
Furthermore, who would act in the role of "checks and balance" to the executive and judicial branches in the off year? There is more to the legislature than creating the state budget. Would the governor get supreme power in the off year? The state's Supreme Court would be able to legislate from the bench for the better part of two years before the Legislature would be able to act. With the advent of modern technology, it seems as if the world sometimes moves at warp-speed. Who would be there in the off years to create new laws or change current ones to reflect changes in our society?
While I agree that pensions should be cut for legislators (how about a 401K like the rest of us?), I am hesitant to agree with the total loss of benefits. Legislators' benefits should be brought into line with the private sector, but not eliminated entirely. Furthermore, benefits should be offered only for the time the legislator is in office. Currently, if you get elected to one term you receive lifetime benefits, which is absolutely ludicrous and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
To be sure, there are many changes that need to be made in our legislature. While Bouchard's plan is not the way forward, it does help bring many of the issues to light. Hopefully we'll see more from the other gubenatorial candidates in the coming days.
12.02.2009
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Janelle:
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your tenacity and 'chutzpa' in covering local and regioanl politics. I wanted to suggest further investigation of the connection between the city council email scandal and the decision to build the new city court complex -- which at $400+ per square foot is by far the most expensive facility built in Ann Arobr, and probably in the state.
My point is that the reason city council voted for this project has less to do with the official reasons -- e.g. space needed for police and staff (whose ranks are being reduced) and more to do with the desire by Chris Easthope and his campaign manager to prepare a lavish office to accomodate his judgeship plans. Especially now, with the city considering extensive cuts in services, we need to find out the real reasons for this wasteful use of taxpayer funds, and to hold to account those responsible.
Thanks for your comments Dr. Weiss. I tend not to stray too far into Ann Arbor politics, mostly because A2Politico focuses on that coverage. Many of my readers read A2P as well, so I make an attempt to avoid being redundant.
ReplyDeleteHe/She has actually done quite a bit on the new court building; you can read about it at www.a2politico.com. (Click on the tag for Chris Easthope and you'll find a plethora of posts.)
The blog is more controversial than mine and there is definitely an agenda against most of the City Council. That being said, it is still a great entertaining and informative read!
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the blog and I hope you'll keep checking in (and commenting!) I enjoy hearing what others have to say.
I, too, say that this idea to reduce Legistative time is ridiculous. First off, term limits have destroyed leadership and congenial skills. Second, as MI is the 10th most populous state, and especially thanks to term limits, a full-time Legislature is in need. And I agree, why should only the wealthy elite be allowed to serve?
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