Proposed Amendment to Withhold Pay for Budget Delays Falls Short in Michigan
Efforts to penalize Michigan’s governors and legislators financially for missing budget deadlines were thwarted in the state House on Thursday. A resolution, which aimed to ask voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution, was defeated.
The Republican-sponsored proposal sought to delay paychecks for state officials if the budget isn’t completed by the July 1 deadline. However, it failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed, as 30 Democratic representatives did not support it. The state is currently operating without a new budget, having missed the July 1 deadline by over seven weeks, with no statutory penalties in place for such delays.
House Speaker Matt Hall (D-Richland Township) expressed frustration over the stalemate, stating, “I think the people of Michigan would be very frustrated to know that these politicians want to keep their pay and not get a budget done. You see what we’re dealing with in the negotiations is a group of unserious people that want to blame their political opponents rather than get a deal done.”
The proposed amendment would not affect the ongoing budget discussions, as it requires voter approval via a ballot measure and a Senate supermajority before taking effect. Critics argue the proposal was added to the agenda at the last minute as a political maneuver, with Representative Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) labeling it “theater” and emphasizing the need to focus on completing the budget.
The absence of a finalized budget has left K-12 schools and higher education institutions uncertain about state funding as they commence their fiscal years. Lawmakers earn a base salary of $71,685 plus an expense allowance, while the governor’s salary is $159,300, amounts set by the Michigan State Officers Compensation Commission and subject to legislative approval. Although the amendment does not propose salary cuts, it aims to withhold pay until the budget is approved.
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