Reps. Gosselin, Hoogendyk, Sheen, Schuitmaker, Acciavatti, Stahl, Drolet, Bieda, Clemente, Condino, Dillon, Espinoza, Hunter, Lemmons, III, McDowell, Mortimer, Rocca, Stewart, Taub, Tobocman, Vagnozzi and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 177.

            A resolution recommending a 7 percent pay cut for all state legislators.

            Whereas, As our economic recovery lags behind the rest of the nation, Michigan finds itself faced with challenges of funding programs with costs that rise faster than available revenues. Michigan faces its fifth consecutive year of budget shortfalls and a $773 million hole in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2005. Steady increases in corrections, Medicaid, and K-12 expenditures have contributed to placing Michigan in a financial crisis. For example, Medicaid spending is up 40 percent in four years, and over 30 percent of state workers are now located in the Department of Corrections; and

            Whereas, The state's funding for higher education has dropped 15 percent in the last three fiscal years, and the Governor has proposed additional cuts for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2005. Colleges and universities have responded by raising tuition, paring staff and faculty, increasing class sizes, enacting fees, and scrambling to find other sources of income; and

            Whereas, Local governments have experienced recent reductions in what they receive from the state of Michigan. Revenue sharing in fiscal year 2000-01 was $1.5 billion. This year the amount totals $1.1 billion. The roughly $400 million drop in shared funds over the last four years has meant consolidated or reduced services in many communities. Cities, villages, and townships have been forced to scale back police and fire protection, and roads throughout the state are growing worse. Michigan lost 1,100 police officers from its streets since September 11, 2001; and

            Whereas, Declining state revenue for several years has left general fund revenues at the lowest point since 1970 when adjusted for inflation. The state workforce is down 8,500 in three years and the number of state employees is the lowest since 1974; and

            Whereas, The Governor has issued three executive directives that focus on saving money by limiting nonessential travel, restricting the purchase of nonessential supplies, and restructuring the creation of positions or hiring new employees. The Governor voluntarily cut her salary 10 percent in 2004 and 5 percent this year; and

            Whereas, In these tough economic times we must try using every tax dollar efficiently and effectively. Fiscal responsibility remains a top priority. We were able to save millions of dollars in the last fiscal year, and we will continue to maintain tight fiscal discipline this year as well; and

            Whereas, Legislators should take a pay cut, since it sends a clear message to the citizens of the state of Michigan that legislators are taking steps to share in the pain at this time. Since other governmental officials at the state and municipal level, state employees, school employees, and numerous residents across this state have been asked to sacrifice, as elected leaders in state government, state legislators have an obligation to share in these sacrifices; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we recommend a 7 percent pay cut for all legislators; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to all legislators.