July 16, 2008, Introduced by Rep. Meadows and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Investigations.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending section 12 of article IV and
repealing section 54 of article IV, to reduce salaries of members
of the legislature, to prohibit retirement health benefits for
members of the legislature, and to repeal term limits for members
of the legislature.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to reduce salaries of members of the
legislature, to prohibit retirement health benefits for members of
the legislature, and to repeal term limits for members of the
legislature, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of
the state:
ARTICLE IV
Sec. 12. The state officers compensation commission is created
which subject to this section shall determine the salaries and
expense allowances of the members of the legislature, the governor,
the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of
state, and the justices of the supreme court. The commission shall
consist of 7 members appointed by the governor whose qualifications
may
be determined by law. Subject Except
as otherwise provided in
this section and subject to the legislature's ability to amend the
commission's determinations as provided in this section, the
commission shall determine the salaries and expense allowances of
the members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the
justices of the supreme court which determinations shall be the
salaries and expense allowances only if the legislature by
concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members elected
to and serving in each house of the legislature approve them. The
senate and house of representatives shall alternate on which house
of the legislature shall originate the concurrent resolution, with
the senate originating the first concurrent resolution.
The concurrent resolution may amend the salary and expense
determinations of the state officers compensation commission to
reduce the salary and expense determinations by the same proportion
for members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the
justices of the supreme court. The legislature shall not amend the
salary and expense determinations to reduce them to below the
salary and expense level that members of the legislature, the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the
secretary of state, and the justices of the supreme court receive
on the date the salary and expense determinations are made. If the
salary and expense determinations are approved or amended as
provided in this section, the salary and expense determinations
shall become effective for the legislative session immediately
following the next general election. The commission shall meet each
2 years for no more than 15 session days. The legislature shall
implement this section by law.
Beginning January 1, 2009, a legislator shall receive a salary
of $5,000.00 for each month in which the legislator attends all
scheduled session days. A legislator's salary shall be reduced
proportionally for each session day the legislator does not attend.
A legislator shall not be provided any retiree health benefits
solely because of his or her service in the legislature. The salary
of a legislator may be changed by the state officers compensation
commission and the legislature as provided in this section.
Sec.
54. No person shall be elected to the office of state
representative
more than three times. No person shall be elected to
the
office of state senate more than two times. Any person
appointed
or elected to fill a vacancy in the house of
representatives
or the state senate for a period greater than one
half
of a term of such office, shall be considered to have been
elected
to serve one time in that office for purposes of this
section.
This limitation on the number of times a person shall be
elected
to office shall apply to terms of office beginning on or
after
January 1, 1993.
This
section shall be self-executing. Legislation may be
enacted
to facilitate operation of this section, but no law shall
limit
or restrict the application of this section. If any part of
this
section is held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining
parts of this section shall not be affected but will
remain
in full force and effect.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
in the manner provided by law.