Senator Richardville offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 104.

            A resolution to urge the State Officers Compensation Commission to ensure that no compensation is earned by legislators or the governor beginning on July 1 of every year until the Michigan Legislature has passed a balanced budget.

            Whereas, Each year, as the state heads toward the end of its fiscal year without the balanced budget required by the Michigan Constitution, anguish and uncertainty are heightened for people and businesses from Monroe to Ironwood. So, too, our central services, police and fire protection, local government, school districts, universities, community colleges, health care, and countless key functions are in jeopardy; and

            Whereas, Legislators and the governor must fulfill their legal duties to craft the budget in accordance with the Constitution and in fulfillment of their obligation to those who elected them. Running up to or beyond the deadline of September 30 causes immeasurable distress for our families, businesses, schools, and other institutions, in addition to harming our reputation and credit rating, in both the short and long term; and

            Whereas, As other public employees face the loss of compensation that would result from missing the constitutional fiscal-year deadline, it is essential that similar losses be imposed on the state's lawmakers and governor, whose inability to craft a balanced budget is the cause of this upheaval and potential damage to Michigan; and

Whereas, By having the budget in place by July 1 of the preceding fiscal year, state and local government agencies, school districts, and all other institutions will have adequate time to plan; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the State Officers Compensation Commission to ensure that no compensation is earned by legislators or the governor after July 1 of each year until the Michigan Legislature has passed a balanced budget; and to provide that for every day after July 1 the state is without a budget passed by the Legislature, a day's pay shall be deducted from the compensation for each legislator and the governor; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the State Officers Compensation Commission.