Groups Demand: End Legislators' Lifetime Perks, Slash Salaries
Progress Michigan calls on Legislature to lead by example, share state’s suffering
Oct. 8th, 2007
LANSING – Progress Michigan and a coalition of groups today launched a public pressure campaign calling on legislators to end their lavish lifetime health care and benefits, and slash their own salaries, a move that could save millions of dollars at a time when Michigan still faces a $435-million budget shortfall. The coalition includes the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and Michigan Citizen Action.
“Michigan is in a serious budget crisis and our elected leaders in Lansing should lead by example – and that means ending the lavish perks each of them gets after working for just a few years,” Progress Michigan Executive Director Dan Farough said. “Our legislators wheeled and dealed in the cover of night and protected their own free lifetime health care, while citizens suffered painful cuts. Our elected officials must send a signal now, stand with our citizens who are sacrificing and start leading by example.”
When the Legislature cut a deal on Oct. 1 to resolve Michigan’s budget impasse, the state Senate conveniently refused to address legislation passed in the House that would slash legislators’ perks, which include receiving lifetime health care and benefits after leaving office. Now, the State Senate says it needs more time to “study” the issue.
Under the House-passed proposals, future state legislators will no longer receive lifetime health care and see a 5-percent reduction in salary. Currently, a state legislator gets lifetime health care and benefits after serving only six years in the legislature. A Michigan legislator is paid a salary that starts at nearly $80,000 a year and also gets allowances worth thousands of dollars.
Furthermore, the Legislature also attacked health care for public employees during wrangling over the budget impasse. The citizens’ coalition blasted legislators for protecting their own lifetime health care instead of helping 1 million uninsured Michigan citizens get health care.
“Our legislators put their lavish perks and their free ride first instead of the working families of Michigan – and that’s shameful,” said Doug Pratt of the Michigan Education Association. “The working families of Michigan never got a free ride. One million of our citizens don’t have health insurance. It’s only fair that legislators lead by example and share the pain.”Ken Fletcher of the Michigan AFL-CIO said: “Senator Majority Leader Mike Bishop insisted that the budget deal include cuts to teachers’, school bus drivers’ and cafeteria workers’ pension and health care, but then turned around and protected his own legislative perks and benefits. This isn’t leadership, this is height of hypocrisy.”
“So many of Michigan’s hardworking residents are under-insured or have no health care,” said Linda Teeter, executive director of Michigan Citizen Action. “If the legislature is going to cut the health care coverage of Michigan families then they need to lead by example and cut themselves first.”
Farough called on the Senate to pass the House-approved proposals to end legislators’ health care and slash their salaries. He also urged the Legislature to strengthen those proposals by making them apply to current legislators.
Progress Michigan’s public pressure campaign includes an online petition which citizens can sign at www.nolansingfreeride.com Citizens without health care or have gone without health care are also invited to share their experiences and tell health care horror stories on the Web site.