LANSING – In an effort to help resolve Michigan's financial crisis, State Representatives Mike Lahti (D-Hancock), Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) and Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) today announced historic cuts to the state legislative budget to ensure that lawmakers share in the sacrifices residents are being asked to make in Michigan's tough economic times. The cuts include ending lifelong health care for lawmakers and cutting the House budget.
"Michigan is facing an unprecedented budgetary crisis," said Lahti. "As the public's representatives in Lansing, we should be the ones to take the first hit. We need to set an example and tighten our belts."
McDowell said, "In these difficult economic times, we need to protect funding for education, economic development, health care services and other priorities that our residents hold dear. We all have to share in the sacrifices, and it's important that the Legislature lead the way."
The House Democratic plan will:
- End lifetime health care coverage for new State Representatives once they leave office. The plan also requires current lawmakers to pay more for health care coverage, ending the special treatment lawmakers get and ensuring they pay the same amount for health care that all other state employees pay.
- Increase monthly health care co-pays for State Representatives, their staff members and other legislative workers.
- Cut the budget for the House of Representatives by more than 5 percent.
- Ban the use of state funds for out-of-state travel for State Representatives.
- Cut positions within the House of Representatives to eliminate redundancies.
"We're not going to sit on the sidelines idly while Michigan and the citizens of the Upper Peninsula struggle in the face of adversity," Lindberg said. "We need to be part of the solution."