When we're talking about past budget shortfalls of 500 Million and State debts in the $$Billions$$, it's not the meager $12-18 Mil we pay the legislature that's killing the state. Subsidizing the unproductive (welfare) and school funding waste are among the chief culprits of how the state is being squandered. Add to that losses in revenues from record unemployment due to driving businesses out of the state or simply out of business (from bad govt policy) and Mr. Bouchard's desired first "step" for Michigan is complete nonsense, the solidifying of our already-done financial ruin.

An argument can be made that limiting the time the legislature has to make laws we don't need to screw things up even more is one strategy to deal with growing governmental irresponsibility; but notice he doesn't make that argument in his post. Further, as a Republican, one can assume his desire is the same as ours: That we take back the MI House of Representatives in 2010. Upon doing so, our first act is to take away our power to un-do what the Liberals have done to mess up our state? I don't think so! We have WAY TOO MUCH work to do to repeal bad laws, rework tax codes, and encourage businesses to start or move here, among many other legislative acts (which include proper education funding WITH waste oversight and proper role of government security issues dealing with police forces and such). When we whittle the government down to its proper role, there will be plenty of time to decide on the scope and terms of a part-time legislation, which must meet annually.

What is with this notion of proposing WIDE SWEEPING changes, and DO IT NOW attitude? He wants to go from a viable, full-time legislature to only 120 days, every OTHER year? Really? When there's so much to do to un-do the Left's damage, he wants to severely undercut the legislature's ability to do so. Sounds like he wants to maintain the progressive status-quo, which isn't very conservative. Add to that the viewpoint that it is also a power-grab skewed towards the executive branch in Michigan, just like what's happening at the federal level. So when the legislature's out, what's to stop his propensity of issuing executive order after executive order that we'd spend all our time going over and fixing when in session? We're bound to disagree with some of those orders. How is such an opportunity for power-abuse from the Governorship good for Michigan? How does that balance power among the three branches of government when "the People" aren't being represented? In reality, that's what this is: A proposed lack of representation of the People in government.

Another thing I don't like about this as a citizen or a potential legislator is that he's playing on fears of government, jealousies and frustrations the People have about Congress, and misrepresentations of the budget scope to try and gain votes, rather than using real substance about real issues. Some of the proposal hasn't even been on the radar for a long time. Take term limits for example. This got done, but is also a double-edged sword; you get rid of the good with the bad on term limits. You also limit the amount of legislators who KNOW what's going on with the state, putting that advantage onto the staffers, who are not elected, giving them more influence then perhaps they should have. Now, Mr. Bouchard wants to cut total service from 14 years to 12 years, combining the total service between both houses? There are sound reasons why either house's limits should be respected separately. A more useful change would be to increase one term of the Reps in the House to 3 years with a corresponding condition on term limits for either house: If the People deem he/she is a good legislator, they may take a vote (say a year out?) on a performance evaluation of him/her, giving him/her an extension on his/her term limit. Aren't performance evaluations done in the private sector? Why shouldn't they be for public office by those who hire them, the People? Point is, they should; question becomes, how can it be viably done to keep the Good and weed out the Bad?

Clearly, people need to get more involved, especially in the Primary Elections process. This is where we weed out the good from the bad within the Party, where we elect Conservatives to represent us in the General Election, and weed out the Progressives who want to maintain govt dependency.

While I can agree with Mr. Bouchard on stopping the hemorrhaging of people and businesses, properly funding and hiring police forces, and putting legislative priorities on the budgetary process (that include accountability), I cannot support this power-grabbing course of action at this time. I think others should recognize this for what it is, and since he's let the cat out of the bag well-before the election, that we certainly use the Primary Election to choose another candidate as our Nominee.

Sorry, Mike, but you need to see the big picture before you can make decisions about the details.

I will say that among Republicans, I'm leaning towards one of the only Conservatives worth a darn in Congress... Pete Hoekstra! Go, Pete!

Paul "Revere" Peterson
Republican Candidate
79th MI House District
votepaulpeterson.org

BOUCHARD PRESS RELEASE: 11/30/2009

Bouchard lays out more specific changes:
"A part-time Legislature is a step in the right direction for fixing Lansing"

Oakland County- Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor and former state legislator, calls for a part-time legislature in Lansing.

"It is obvious that Lansing is broken.  For me, it is a Return on Investment move (ROI).  We are one of the few states left in America that still has a full-time legislature.  And yet, the state's budget process almost sent our government into shutdown for the second time in three years.  Having a part-time legislature will ensure that our lawmakers focus on priorities vital to Michigan," Bouchard said.

Bouchard's plan would have the legislature meet a total of 120 days every other year.  Additionally, the term limit that now allows an individual to serve six years in the House and eight years in the Senate for a total of 14 years would be changed to allow one to serve a total of only 12 years, which they could serve in any combination between the two chambers.  This will eliminate the incentive to jump chambers and encourage members to build relationships both across the aisle and between chambers.  The proposal would also permanently eliminate all future members of the legislature from getting taxpayer funded health care coverage or pensions.

In September, Bouchard called for other systemic reforms, including to the annual budget process.  Under Bouchard's budget plan, a balanced budget must be in place by May 15th.  Until then, no other non-essential legislation may be considered.  The budget adopted would be a two-year rolling budget with a three-year look out that would be independently verified for accuracy.  For every day after May 15th that the budget is not in place, the Governor and all legislators would be docked a day's pay.

"Our budget is in a continual state of crisis.  Just over a month ago, State Troopers were being laid off.  During that time, a few legislators introduced a bill to allow former legislator's funerals to receive a police escort from the Michigan State Police," Bouchard added.  "We lead the Midwest in violent crimes and have the lowest number of police officers per capita.  Funding for lawmakers to have a police funeral escort while our state is hemorrhaging clearly shows priorities in Lansing are out of whack.  It is time to fix Lansing so Michigan can get back to work."

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