By David Eggert
Associated Press
MACKINAC ISLAND (AP) — Likely gubernatorial candidate Brian Calley has announced he is leading a ballot drive to make the Michigan Legislature part-time, saying his proposal would let lawmakers conduct the state's business but leave less time for “procrastination, politics and posturing."
Calley, the Republican lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor in 2018, when the Clean MI Government initiative would be on the statewide ballot if enough signatures are collected.
Legislators could meet no more than 90 consecutive days a year under the plan, unless the governor calls a special session. They now meet off and on throughout the year.
Their annual pay would be slashed from about $72,000 to an amount equaling about half of the average teacher's salary — roughly $32,000 based on 2015-16 data compiled by the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council.
Michigan is among 10 states with a full-time legislature, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“It really does beg the question: Why is that? We know that we don't need more laws and regulations than other states,” Calley said on Mackinac Island, on the eve of the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual policy conference for business, political and civil leaders. “Make no mistake: There will be plenty of time to do the state's business. There will just be less time for procrastination. There will be less time for politics and posturing. There will be less time to propose thousands of new laws each year. Sometimes, less is more.”
Sixteen states have a part-time legislature, and 24 are “hybrids” — with legislators who typically say they spend more than two-thirds of a full-time job being lawmakers.
Calley, who backed a proposed part-time legislature constitutional amendment when he was in the House, released an online ad on the ballot committee's website and said the plan would save money, make government more efficient and allow more people to serve because they would not have to abandon their careers.
The group will need about 315,000 valid voter signatures to qualify for the November 2018 ballot.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder cannot run again due to term limits. Saginaw doctor Jim Hines is the only Republican who is actively campaigning.
But both Calley and Attorney General Bill Schuette are expected to run. An independent political action committee has been running online ads for more than a month touting Calley and building anticipation about Tuesday's announcement.
Schuette also has supported a part-time legislature.
An anti-Calley group that re-emerged Tuesday said voters should be wary of him when it comes to ballot measures.
The Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals, which opposed a 2015 road-funding proposal that voters defeated by a 4-to-1 margin, noted that Calley had backed the plan.
“Brian Calley has a history of supporting special interests and higher taxes. When it comes to statewide proposals, he says one thing and does another,” said Randall Thompson, the organization's president.
While some conservative activists have long talked about part-time legislative proposals, Calley said the movement has lacked a “statewide presence” to activate the grassroots and fight the “establishment.”
Calley’s announcement drew criticism from Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group whose staff protested outside the event at a Mackinac Island hotel.
Executive director Lonnie Scott said it was the “perfect place to announce something that’s going to allow more corporate control and lobbyist influence in our
Legislature, which is exactly what a part-time Legislature would do.”
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said if voters are OK with a different balance of power between the governor and the Legislature, then they should support it.
“What I’m not for is part-time pay for full-time work,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Chris Ehrmann in Lansing contributed to this report.
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