FeedsHouse cuts budget to show solidarity
A series of auto and manufacturing job cuts and buyouts has forced local elected officials and families in western Wayne County to tighten their budgets.
Their representatives in the Michigan State House have decided to do the same.
As thousands of taxpayers from across the state flock to the unemployment lines, state legislators vow to show more stewardship over their tax dollars.
State Reps. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) and Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) scheduled public meetings on Monday in their respective districts, to announce more than 5 percent cuts across the board to the House budget.
“Our residents have been making sacrifices to make ends meet in these tough times as Michigan struggles to get back on track. We’re working to turn Michigan around and we’re starting by cutting our own budget in the House,” said LeBlanc, a freshman legislator.
“I want our residents to know that my colleagues in the House and I won’t sit on the sidelines,” he added.
The plan proposed by the Democratic-controlled House will end lifetime health coverage for new House members once they leave office. The plan requires current lawmakers and their staff members to pay more for their health coverage. The proposal also will band the use of state funds for out-of-state travel.
House officials said the cuts would save taxpayers between $3 million to $3.5 million.
Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume said the cuts in the State House budget are a “nice gesture,” but more has to be done in order to fix Michigan’s financial house.
“Everyone would prefer better economic times. But all indicators predict we will see more cuts,” said Reaume, who seen more than 70 jobs in Plymouth Township disappear when Pfizer decided to move its research and development operations to other states.
Despite major cuts to the state shared revenue program with municipalities, Reaume said the state faces more than $1 billion shortfall in the budget this year and another $1 billion deficit the next fiscal year that has to be addressed.
“We’re all in this boat together, the state, municipalities and school districts. We all have to continue to make cuts,” he said.
State Rep. Phil LaJoy (R-Canton) said he has not had any official discussions with his Democratic colleagues about the proposal. However, he supports the state House setting the example for the rest of the state government.
“This gives us a tremendous opportunity to make more cuts throughout state government,” said the two-term representative of Canton Township, Belleville and Van Buren Township.
“If you want to make cuts, do it all over. This needs to be more than a Band-aid,” LaJoy said.
While Corriveau admits that the cuts to the House budget alone will not solve the Michigan financial crisis, he said it sends a clear message to residents that the Legislature is taking the financial crisis seriously.
“If people in Michigan have to tighten up their belts, we shouldn’t be any different,” said the representative for Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Northville, Northville Township, and Wayne.
Democrats have a reputation for shying away from budget cuts and tax breaks, but the times call for new ways to examine current problems, said Corriveau.
Last week, the freshman legislator proposed series of tax cuts for business owners and new auto buyers. Corriveau expects similar proposals to reach the House floor.
“We are in a unique time and we have to be creative and do what it takes to get the state back on its feet,” he said.
