Government Reform Proposal Grabs Voter Attention

June 16, 2008

The recent news stories about a government reform proposal have gotten the attention of SEIU members. The SEIU office has received several calls seeking more information on this proposal. After analysis of the provisions, the SEIU Local 517M Executive Board feels that this proposal is in the best interest of our members and supports the proposal fully.

We have compiled some talking points on this proposal so you have a better understanding on how the proposal would change the look and operation of state government:

Reforming the Legislative Branch
• Legislators’ benefits after leaving office to be the same as retired state employees
• Stop the revolving door between the Legislature and lobbying by enacting a two-year lobbying ban — the toughest in the nation.
• Require annual public disclosure of income and assets by all legislators
• Roll back the 38 percent increase lawmakers gave themselves in 2002
• Reduce the Senate from 38 to 28 and the House from 110 to 82
• Reform redistricting by appointing a bipartisan panel to set legislative districts

Reforming the Judicial Branch
• Judicial benefits after leaving office to be the same as retired state employees
• Reduce judicial salaries by 15 percent
• Toughen disciplinary and conflict of interest requirements
• Require annual public disclosure of income and assets for all judges and justices
• Add 10 judges to the lower courts and reduce the number of Supreme Court Justices from seven to five justices and the Court of Appeals from 28 to 20 judges

Reforming the Executive Branch
• Benefits after leaving office for the four statewide elected officials (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state) to be the same as retired state employees
• Reduce the salaries of the four statewide elected officials by 25 percent
• Stop the revolving door between the executive branch and lobbying by enacting a two-year lobbying ban — the toughest in the nation.
• Require annual public disclosure of income and assets for the four statewide elected officials
• Reduce the constitutional cap on the number of state government departments from 20 to the current 18
• Cut hundreds of appointed state boards and commissions

Election reforms
• Strengthen the ban on illegal aliens’ ability to register and vote.
• Make the Bureau of Elections independent of partisanship
• Allow no-reason absentee voting.
• Require post-election audits of election procedures
• Require paper trails for all voting systems
• Ban election official campaign role(s)
• Enact anti-fraud measures to protect the integrity of Michigan’s election process