Michigan lawmakers should be part of 'shared sacrifice' plan (pay 'em same as school teachers)

[Shallah Kali]

(I am counting the bulleted items as one paragraph. If I am incorrect in doing this please let me know so I can edit)

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/03/guest_column_michigan_lawmaker_1.html#incart_mce

Beginning January 2011, entry level salaries for senators and representatives in Michigan went from $79,650 to $71,685. Their expense account was reduced from $12,000 to $10,800. The qualifications to be elected as a Michigan lawmaker are citizenship in the U.S., age 21 and no criminal record.

snip

n the Thornapple Kellogg District, for example, beginning teachers earn $38,461 for a nine-and-a-half month contract. This is after they have:
• Obtained a four-year degree in an approved college of education;

• Successfully student taught for one full year, no pay;

• Passed state mandated qualifying tests (in math, reading, writing, specific subjects);

• Applied for a provisional teaching certificate, at teacher’s expense.

• To continue teaching, probationary teachers must:

• Be on probation for four years once hired; may be let go at will during this time;

• Within six years must take 18 graduate level credits at an approved college and successfully teach for three years; graduate classes paid for by teachers;

• Apply for a professional teaching certificate, at teacher’s expense;

• Every five years must reapply for teaching certificate and obtain six grad credits, all at teacher’s expense;

• Must repeat this process for as long as one teaches.


snip

Critics of this plan might argue that reducing legislators’ salaries and benefits will barely make a dent in Michigan’s looming deficit. However, a reduction in salary from $71,685 to $38,461 ($33,224 times 148 legislators), is a savings of $4.9 million. Reducing expense accounts from $10,800 to $90 (teachers’ yearly supply allotment) is an additional savings of $1.6 million.

This is my challenge to Michigan senators and representatives: reduce your salary for one year to that of a first-year public school teacher. Cut your salaries. Cut your perks. Cut your retirement benefits just as you would cut those to every other citizen in Michigan. If the people of Michigan can live with the cuts you propose to the budget, then so can you. Don’t ask us to do what you will not.

[bluestateguy]

1. What a fucking waste of money

One of the very few things I like about the way they do things in Texas is that legislators are paid only $7200.

And they only meet 5 months every other year. Given the nutjobs in the Texas legislature, that is just fine with me.

[Shallah Kali]

4. They also get $128 per diem each day in session

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Legislature#Salary_of_Legislative_Officials

State legislatures in Texas make $600 per month, or $7,200 per year, plus a per diem of $128 for every day the Legislature is in session. That adds up to $17,920 a year for a regular session (140 days).

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Wow, last I checked, the state legislators in Florida were paid around $35,000.

Granted, it's been a couple of years since I checked last.

[Shallah Kali]

3. $29,697 per year as of '09

http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Florida_state_government_salary

[Shallah Kali]

5. kick

:kick:

[Snoutport]

6. AND they have to buy their own supplies!!

and make him buy food for his staff when they are hungry. and birthday cakes. AND they have to bake two nights in a row for a bake sale AND do all their paperwork at home...AND there has to be 20-35 8 year olds within eyesight the entire day.

ah....i like this game.