Vegas
06-07-2007, 11:02 AM
http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/060707/loc_20070607134.shtml
State Rep. John Garfield, R-Rochester Hills, has missed 45 votes since Jan. 1. Rep. Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, has missed 24 votes.
They would see those missed votes reflected in their paychecks, under legislation proposed Wednesday by Rep. David Law, RCommerce Township.
Law wants to dock the $79,650 annual pay of lawmakers for each vote they miss, with the amount to be determined by the House and Senate.
"Last term we had some people missing hundreds of votes," Law said. "That's just too many. People are going to miss some, it's tough to have 100 percent, but you shouldn't be missing hundreds of them either."
There have been 184 roll call votes in the House and 131 in the Senate this year from Jan. 1 to June 6, according to MichiganVotes.org, a part of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit thinktank that tracks lawmakers' voting records.
Law is among nine Oakland County lawmakers who have, as of Wednesday, missed no votes.
The others are state Reps. Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills; Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills; Paul Condino, D-Southfield; and Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak; and state Sens. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester; John Pappageorge, R-Troy; Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods; and Deborah Cherry, D-Genesee County, according to MichiganVotes.
Oakland County House members missing some votes this year include Reps. Marty Knollenberg, R- Troy, 8; Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, 4; James Marleau, R-Lake Orion, 2; Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, 5; John Stakoe, R-Highland Township, 6; and Fran Amos, RWaterford Township, 1. State Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, has missed one vote.
Law said he has no particular amount in mind that lawmakers would be docked. "I feel it has to be a number significant enough to make a difference," he said.
The money collected from missed votes would go to a nonprofit group chosen by each chamber, under Law's proposal. Lawmakers wouldn't be penalized for votes missed for excused absences, such as illness or family emergencies.
Law introduced the same measure a year ago in the last legislative session. Then, the House passed it 98-5 and the Senate took no action on it.
Melton, Moss and Knollenberg weren't in the Legislature last year. Meisner did not vote on last year's measure.
The other Oakland County House members supported it, including Garfield, whose 45 absences are the most among the 110 state representatives and 38 state senators.
Garfield has been excused from a half-dozen House sessions since his March 29 drunken driving arrest, mostly in mid-April, according to state House records.
Law said it's nearly impossible not to miss a vote during the course of the two-year session.
He said he missed some last year when he had to testify before a Senate committee while the House was in session.
Knollenberg suggested that lawmakers' pay could be divided by the number of session days or roll call votes to determine how much a missed vote is worth.
"If you look at the private sector, if you don't work, you don't get paid," Knollenberg said. "This is an accountability measure. If we're not voting, we shouldn't get paid."
Moss said there are legitimate reasons for absences, but agreed lawmakers are paid to be in Lansing when in session.
"If you've got a legitimate excuse, that's one thing," Moss said. "If you're having a baby like DeRoche is today, that's where he ought to be.
"One day I went to my daughter's graduation. I'd be willing to give up a day's pay for that," Moss said.
State Rep. John Garfield, R-Rochester Hills, has missed 45 votes since Jan. 1. Rep. Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, has missed 24 votes.
They would see those missed votes reflected in their paychecks, under legislation proposed Wednesday by Rep. David Law, RCommerce Township.
Law wants to dock the $79,650 annual pay of lawmakers for each vote they miss, with the amount to be determined by the House and Senate.
"Last term we had some people missing hundreds of votes," Law said. "That's just too many. People are going to miss some, it's tough to have 100 percent, but you shouldn't be missing hundreds of them either."
There have been 184 roll call votes in the House and 131 in the Senate this year from Jan. 1 to June 6, according to MichiganVotes.org, a part of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit thinktank that tracks lawmakers' voting records.
Law is among nine Oakland County lawmakers who have, as of Wednesday, missed no votes.
The others are state Reps. Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills; Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills; Paul Condino, D-Southfield; and Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak; and state Sens. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester; John Pappageorge, R-Troy; Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods; and Deborah Cherry, D-Genesee County, according to MichiganVotes.
Oakland County House members missing some votes this year include Reps. Marty Knollenberg, R- Troy, 8; Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, 4; James Marleau, R-Lake Orion, 2; Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, 5; John Stakoe, R-Highland Township, 6; and Fran Amos, RWaterford Township, 1. State Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, has missed one vote.
Law said he has no particular amount in mind that lawmakers would be docked. "I feel it has to be a number significant enough to make a difference," he said.
The money collected from missed votes would go to a nonprofit group chosen by each chamber, under Law's proposal. Lawmakers wouldn't be penalized for votes missed for excused absences, such as illness or family emergencies.
Law introduced the same measure a year ago in the last legislative session. Then, the House passed it 98-5 and the Senate took no action on it.
Melton, Moss and Knollenberg weren't in the Legislature last year. Meisner did not vote on last year's measure.
The other Oakland County House members supported it, including Garfield, whose 45 absences are the most among the 110 state representatives and 38 state senators.
Garfield has been excused from a half-dozen House sessions since his March 29 drunken driving arrest, mostly in mid-April, according to state House records.
Law said it's nearly impossible not to miss a vote during the course of the two-year session.
He said he missed some last year when he had to testify before a Senate committee while the House was in session.
Knollenberg suggested that lawmakers' pay could be divided by the number of session days or roll call votes to determine how much a missed vote is worth.
"If you look at the private sector, if you don't work, you don't get paid," Knollenberg said. "This is an accountability measure. If we're not voting, we shouldn't get paid."
Moss said there are legitimate reasons for absences, but agreed lawmakers are paid to be in Lansing when in session.
"If you've got a legitimate excuse, that's one thing," Moss said. "If you're having a baby like DeRoche is today, that's where he ought to be.
"One day I went to my daughter's graduation. I'd be willing to give up a day's pay for that," Moss said.