LANSING – In an effort to help resolve Michigan's financial crisis, State Representatives Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), Steve Bieda (D-Warren) and Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe) announced historic cuts to the state legislative budget to ensure that lawmakers share in the sacrifices residents are being asked to make in Michigan's tough economic times. The cuts include ending lifelong health care for lawmakers and cutting the House budget.
"The severe financial crisis facing Michigan means that lawmakers and public servants must make tough decisions," Miller said. "Citizens are being asked to make sacrifices, and Democrats believe that legislators must lead the way with our own State House."
The House Democratic plan will:
· End lifetime health care coverage for new State Representatives once they leave office. The plan also requires current lawmakers to pay more for health care coverage, ending the special treatment lawmakers get and ensuring they pay the same amount for health care that all other state employees pay.
· Increase monthly health care co-pays for State Representatives, their staff members and other legislative workers.
· Cut the budget for the House of Representatives by more than 5 percent.
· Ban the use of state funds for out-of-state travel for State Representatives.
· Cut positions within the House of Representatives to eliminate redundancies.
"My Democratic colleagues and I refuse to sit on the sidelines while others are asked to make sacrifices," Bieda said. "The proposed cuts include increasing health insurance co-pays for legislators and staff."
"These tough economic times threaten teachers, bus drivers, police officers and auto workers," Accavitti said. "We are in this together, and by working together, we can turn this state around."