http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billengrossed/House/pdf/2011-HEBH-4087.pdf

Could we have passed a law banning benes already vested?  Yes - but in politician form, that would have meant the whole law would have been thrown out down the road...and wahlah - all politicians, including us, would have retained their retiree benes.

The budget got done, then we passed this.  Once passed by the senate and signed by the Governor, the first actual savings from this will occur 1/1/13, when the first legislators currently serving and having spent 6 years (third termers only) who are 55 at that time, won't get the benefit that they would have.  Passing the law now, in September, next February or next August would have all represented the same savings.