In the summer of 2008, Center for Michigan workers traveled the state to give Michigan House of Representatives candidates fresh polling data and reports indicating the public’s deep desire for bipartisan cooperation and problem solving in the state capitol.
Some of those candidates took up the message and used it to help win their seats.
Even more came to Lansing in early 2008 in a cooperative mood. Dozens of them came together to form a first-ever bipartisan caucus.
Led by Republican Bill Rogers from Brighton and Democrat Lesia Liss from Warren, the caucus started shyly with a few social mixers and drew fire from hard-bitten commentators who suggested the caucus was hollow.
Quietly, behind the scenes, they started to develop bipartisan policy. Last fall, House Speaker Andy Dillon put them to work on studying long-term K-12 funding solutions.
And, in their own outrage, the freshmen did what freshmen almost never do publicly in the Legislature — they stood up and demanded better accountability from their own caucus leaders. During last fall’s most recent state budget debacle, the freshmen, driven by their own outrage at the inability to get things done and their leaders’ often-deaf ears, made a blunt reform proposal… Pass a state budget by mid-summer or legislators and the governor don’t get paid.
And Wednesday night, the governor endorsed the plan from the bully pulpit…
“A bipartisan group of freshmen in this House of Representatives have called for a constitutional amendment that will require us to complete the budget by July 1. Or else? Dock our pay — yours (legislators) and mine for every day we don’t get the job done. I call on you to put that constitutional amendment on the ballot. From here on out, let’s make movies in Michigan and let California make the budget dramas.”
Keep going, Bipartisan Freshman Caucus.
Get this reform on the ballot.
Force the Legislature to do its job — just as you said you would back there on the campaign trail in the summer of 2008.
6 Comments
Hurray for the Bipartisan Freshman Caucus. Be sure the next freshman class gets an invitation immediately. Maybe we can again have some real leaders in the legislature–ones who put the good of Michigan citizens ahead of their own reelections, or, (dreaming?), above the rhetoric of their own parties.
Congratulations to the Bi-Partisan Freshmem/women in the State Legislature! This is the type of thinking and action we need in both State and Federal government. “Government for the benefit and security of ALL the People!” To paraphrase a comment by President Teddy Roosevelt when fighting for the development of our National Park systems, which is being aired on PBS.
These are critical times for our State and Nation, and if we don’t get rid of the extremists on both sides of the aisle, nothing will ever change, and the future will hold nothing but continued discourse and ignorance. Keep up the Great work Freshmen, we’re solidly behind you!! Hopefully, the next Freshmen Class will join you in working FOR the People! We need to get the Problems solved, NOW!
Forget about politicians “legacies.” Who cares when our State is going down the toilet!!
As a candidate for the 85th House Seat, this is certainly a Caucus I want to join immediately after winning my election. I am so tired of people attacking each other instead of tackling problems! There are two types of people; people who are part of the problem and people who are part of the solution! It’s so easy to point fingers and pass blame. I am sick to death of seeing it and hearing it!! Tax payers pay the salaries of the elected officials and they deserve more than that!!Everyone needs to get off their high horses and work TOGETHER regardless of party affiliation and find the common ground and work from there to bring Michigan forward!
I like the thinking of the new Representatives! I think they would find that their constituents would also be very pleased if they suggested a cut in pay for all State employees (elected or not) to illustrate that they all realize how the rest of the state is suffering. This would also help them reduce future budget problems. Many corporations have followed this approach in order to avoid or reduce layoffs.
I agree in the approach being take. We need to fix the budget process in our State. The approach of setting a firm deadline with consequences if it isn’t met should be embraced by all in order to keep our State moving forward. More room needs to be made for 3-10 year projections to actually be put into the math instead of constantly playing catch up or nothing will change.
While important only symbolically, the actions of the fresh men and women are laudable. With the help of the disillusioned electorate, perhaps they can help prod our lame duck governor and senior membors of both chambers to work together for our collective good.