A petition drive has started, based out of Hastings to Abolish the Michigan State Senate. This would save the State of Michigan MILLIONS of dollars EVERY YEAR.
This has nothing to do with whether you are a Demogreenie or a Republican, just whether you think we need people in government that meet less then 30 times a year, and basically do the same thing that the elected State House of Representatives do.
Curious to see how this poll goes

Yoo,

I have liked the concept of a unicameral legislature for several years. There is a leader in the Senate that actually proposed it when he was in the House. It is not a bad idea.. but I what about the knockign out the House instead of the Senate?

I think pot would be legal before that would happen. Dreamers

While we are at it lets get Jennifer out also.

Keep in mind one thing. The main idea of having seperate houses is to serve as a deterent to a situation where a governor is rubberstamped by a compliant legislature.

If we were to eliminate one of our houses, we would lose one of the checks and balances designed into the system. While it would seem to be less critical on the state level than the federal, I still believe it to be important enough to keep the legislature as it is.

I live just outside the city limits of Hastings, and follow local politics very closely. This drive was started by a democrat ticked off that the republican controlled legislature won't roll over for Granholm. It is lotally disingenuous when Lukeweitz (sp) represents this as a "non-partisan" inspired petition drive.

Orange Thunder, the 'checks and balances' is a concern, but that check and balance can come with a Unicameral Legislature, as the Governor always has the right to 'veto' whatever the House adopts, and the House can always vote down what the Governor adopts.
To me this is not a 'partisan' issue. I am a conservative to moderate Republican that supports eliminating this, even thought the Republicans are in the majority of the Senate. My support of this has not made me a lot of friends within my party, but if it means saving the state MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars in currently wasted Tax-Dollars...I'm all for it. Whether it is being pushed by a Liberal Left Wing Democrat or not, it's worth at least putting it on the ballot.
Once it's on the ballot, then let the voters decide. If the voters love it as it is now, then so be it.

Yoo,

I'm with ya on this one.. The Senate leader I referred to is a Rep as well..

When is tax day again.. not the 15th, but the day that identifies the first day we can actually keep our own money?

I'm not against taxes, just wasting them

We already have term limits. That's how we got the CCW Law passed.

I agree with you 100% on this issue. But you know what your problem is? You can't handle people who have conflicting views with your own. To just start labeling people unfairly because they are a moderate republican who refuses to be duped by Dick DeVos does not mean they are liberal geenie dems as you call them. Your pretty professional for being the president of a local snowmobile club. Yeah, right.

I don't think I would be in favor of abolishing the Senate, however, I would be in favor of moving to a part-time legislature. I think a part-time legislature would save the state a lot of money and keep their focus on important issues rather than what they do now: introduce chicken-shit legislation just to take up time.

Wasn't it last year that one of the Representatives out of GR introduced legislation to make movie theaters post two times for each movie? One for the start time of the previews and one for the start of the movie? That kind of stuff is a huge waste of the state's tax-dollars.

Big Cat...this post is titled "Fire the Senate." If you want to continue to be obsessed with your personal problem with Dick DeVos, take it to the other post. You blast me, "professional for being the President of local Snowmobile Club,' at least I'm doing something for our sport. Wasting my time responding to you...
As far as term limits, that doesn't save us tax dollars like firing the Senate.
Thanks to those that responded, one way or the other.

the art of debate -----

Just looking at this from the selfish side for a moment, as a conserviative myself, I am concerned that with the Senate gone, and the representative makeup of the house being what it is, the legislature is much more vulnerable to being dominated by Detroit and SE MI in general.

I think there is sound logic there Ol Orange one... that is why, if a unicameral legislature comes about, it is the House that should go.

Orange Thunda, I hear you on your concern. Last thing I would want to see is our state dictated by what the urban liberals of Detroit want. However that wouldn't change if we fired the House and kept the Senate.
The advantage of the House is that the Rep has a smaller area to represent and he/she get's to know his/her constituents better.
Our State Senator is only seen at election time. We see our Rep more often.
Thanks for responding and reading!

I like the idea of part time vs. firing one house or the other. Gets us back to more of a representative govt., rather than professional politicians. You really don't need professional politicians on the stsate level anyway IMHO.

Orange Thunder do I ever agree with you on the (Career) Professional Politicians. We had a State Rep that when he was term limited, he worked for a short time for a tribe, then when he got his buddy elected to the State Senate, he's back working for the government!

I don't care if it is a Republican or a Democrat, I still maintain that you can only live off the govt for so long, then you have to get a job in the Private Sector.

What has happened with our PEOPLE-VOTED Term Limits is that many State Reps then run for the State Senate...that gives them another 10+ years of living off the taxpayers. Then they have made enough political buddies to get some other cushy job in Government. Then they have made enough money off the taxpayers to retire early.

Do you know that our Congressmen get paid their annual salary for THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, even if they are in office for only ONE TERM? We have a Congressman in Northern Michigan/UP that makes over $140,000 a year, plus all expenses paid, plus gets a pension from the MSP, plus has an election campaign fund of over $500,000 that he pays his wife and friends (and gets more of his expenses paid for).

This is NOT a Republican/Democrat issue...this constant living off the taxpayers and those in the REAL world by Career Politicians HAS TO FRICKIN STOP!

I have voted against many people on both sides of the aisle that I have found out to be 'career politicians.' I'll vote for a logger, trucker, mill worker, secretary anyday before I'll vote for a Career Politician (or a lawyer).

Bottom line...we have to start DOWN-SIZING Government. It may not be the answer, but FIRING the SENATE is the FIRST STEP. Then we can go to a Part Time Legislature. If those in government can't make it on the reduced pay that I would propose, then get the heck out...we'll put people in Government that remember what those in Government were supposed to do in the first place...serve the public.

If you're in government for the money...get out! If you're in government for Public Service, you have my vote.

Not going to happen.

-Duane

Prolly right....but i'd go with PT politicians myself...anybody have the stats on how many states have one body vs. two, and how many have PT politicians? i saw it recently in the GR press, but cannot find it now. I know that Michigan is near the top of the list for $$$ spent on our senate and house.

Nebraska has a Unicameral Legislature and it's been working good for DECADES. Main reason other states don't have it is the power and money being spent by BOTH parties to PREVENT it from happening. If we can get this on the ballot, then let the PEOPLE VOTE.
We voted for Term Limits, even though the Federal Career Politicians took that to the US Supreme Court and won...we still won in Michigan.
Why would anybody be opposed to having this on the ballot? That is unless you love WASTING MILLIONS of dollars on Politicians pay and bennies...
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