Issue Position: Part-Time Legislation

Issue Position

I support a part-time legislature.

Michigan had a part-time legislation until 1963. Michigan is one of only four states with a full time legislature. Michigan and California are almost tied for first place for the number of laws and regulations created by their lawmakers. Michigan has over 30,000 laws on the books while California has almost 38,000 laws. Last year, our law makers were "in session" or working in Lansing a total of 93 days. We pay our state legislators almost a thousand dollars a day to represent us in Lansing! This is essentially part-time work with full-time pay. They also employ full time staffers and chiefs of staff. Another inherent problem with a full-time legislature is that it helps foster career politicians because the pay is so darn good. It also allows almost 24/7 access to special interest groups and lobbyists. I'd rather see our legislators spend the majority of the year and their time IN the district where they are accessible to their constituents not "speed dating" with Lansing lobbyists all day long! We need citizens who are willing to step out of the private sector, step into the public sector to serve, then step back into their private sector industry and let the next leader take their place.

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