Speaker Cotter offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 129.

            A resolution to create a House select committee to examine the qualifications of Representative Cindy Gamrat of the Eightieth House District and Representative Todd Courser of the Eighty-second House District, State of Michigan, and determine their fitness to continue holding the high office to which they were elected.

            Whereas, Article IV, Section 16 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan provides in relevant part: “…Each house shall be the sole judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its members, and may, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members elected thereto and serving therein, expel a member. The reasons for such expulsion shall be entered in the journal, with the votes and names of the members voting upon the question. No member shall be expelled a second time for the same cause.”; and

            Whereas, Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan provides in relevant part: “All officers, legislative, executive and judicial, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of ………. according to the best of my ability.”; and

            Whereas, House Rule 74(4) states: “A Member shall not convert for personal, business and or/campaign use, unrelated to House business, any supplies, services, facilities, or staff provided by the State of Michigan. This includes, but is not limited to, telephones, telecopy machines, computers, postage, and copy machines.”; and

            Whereas, Confidence in government is a prerequisite to the functioning of a democratic society; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That there is created a House select committee to consist of six members, appointed by the Speaker of the House, four members from the House Republican Caucus and two members from the House Democratic Caucus recommended by the House Minority Leader, to examine the qualifications of Representatives Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser and determine their fitness to continue holding the high office to which they were elected. The House select committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives; and be it further

            Resolved, That the House select committee may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and examine the books, records, and tapes of any person, partnership, association, or corporation, public or private, involved in the matter properly before the committee; may call upon the services and personnel of any agency of the state and its political subdivisions; and may engage such assistance as it deems necessary; and be it further

            Resolved, That the members of the House select committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, to be paid from the appropriation to the House of Representatives; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be served on Representatives Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser and that they be given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the House select committee and be represented by counsel.