LANSING – Acting on a plan proposed by State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond), the State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC) today recommended a 10 percent cut in the salaries for Michigan's lawmakers and other elected officials.
"It's only right that our state leaders tighten their belts along with our working families in these tough times," Haase said. "With so many of our fellow residents out of work or struggling to make ends meet, legislators should have to make sacrifices, too. We must all work together to move Michigan in the right direction."
In February, the House approved a resolution proposed by Haase that calls on the SOCC, the body in charge of determining legislator salaries, to decrease lawmakers' salaries by 10 percent, as well as the salaries of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State. Of the nine states that have full-time Legislatures, Michigan lawmakers are the second-highest paid at $79,650 a year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. House Democrats passed a resolution to cut lawmakers' pay during the previous legislative session, as well. The Senate failed to act on the resolution both times it was passed by the House. Despite the Senate's inaction, the SOCC today voted to recommend a 10 percent pay cut for elected officials. The SOCC's recommendation will now go before the House and Senate for a full vote.
"Lawmakers are not a class above – we should be sharing in the same sacrifice that is being asked of the residents of Michigan," said House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township). "We must lead by example and share in the sacrifice that our residents all over the state are making. When this measure comes before the Legislature, I urge my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to take quick action on this plan to cut elected officials' pay. It's the right thing to do."