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2 out of 12 ain't bad -- Wait, yes it is

By Nick, Section News
Posted on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 08:47:13 AM EST

Aren't five day weekends the best? You get to sleep in while everyone else is at work... three times. You get to have your normal weekend routine... twice. You get paid on Friday and can spend the whole day spending your cash. You can escape to your cottage up north. You can take a family trip. You can catch up on daytime TV and go through everything you were forced to TIVO during your two day work week.

Yeah, five day weekends... they're just the best.

Anyways, who works on Thursdays anymore anyways? Besides everyone I mean. Everyone except the Michigan House of Representatives. They're cashing their full-time paychecks and they're clocked out again today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that.

Must have been a grueling Tuesday and Wednesday, huh?

This is getting ridiculous. Lets take a look at the House Democrat schedule the last couple weeks:

Thursday, July 19: Half day (folks had to get to Seattle after all)
Friday, July 20: NO SESSION
Saturday, July 21: NO SESSION
Sunday, July 22: NO SESSION
Monday, July 23: NO SESSION
Tuesday, July 24: Session
Wednesday, July 25: Session
Thursday, July 26: NO SESSION
Friday, July 27: NO SESSION
Saturday, July 28: NO SESSION
Sunday, July 29: NO SESSION
Monday, July 30: NO SESSION

That's 2 ½ work days out of 12. Yeah, they've got it rough. Glad to know Andy Dillon and his entire caucus are taking this budget crisis so seriously. After all, it's only been:

197 DAYS since Andy Dillon said:

"We are facing a budget shortfall this current fiscal year in excess of $500 million and next year's is in excess of $3 billion. Bottom line: We have a lot of work to do...
"We did this in anticipation of the looming budget crisis and the need for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work immediately."
Journal of the House, Jan. 10, 2007, pgs. 22-23

Read on...

62 DAYS since the Democrat controlled House followed the Senate GOP lead on cuts, reforms and accounting changes that balanced the FY2007 budget without raising taxes. An imperfect budget fix but one that closed the books, didn't steal a dime from taxpayers and avoided the governor's proposed cuts to education and Medicaid that would have caused schools to close early and people to "die" (the governor's words).

56 DAYS since the Democrat controlled House closed shop entirely to head up to Mackinac island for fudge, carriage rides and time on the porch of the Grand Hotel, wrapping up a period of time when they worked two of eleven days. Looking back to the week immediately preceding this particular hiatus we find the Memorial Day weekend. When you lay it all out in order the Democrat controlled House did the following:

Four day Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28)

Two day work week (Tuesday and Wednesday, May 29 and 30)

Five day weekend on Mackinac Island (Thursday, May 31 through Monday, June 4)

43 DAYS since the Senate GOP and House Dems agreed on a replacement for the hated Single Business Tax, clearing the legislative agenda to tackle the $1.19 billion FY2008 budget "deficit."

197 days with majority control and votes to spare and they're taking more time off? The worst part is they don't even think they're doing anything wrong.

< Granholm crony Caruso: Flower Power the answer to crime | A Hazy Shade of Criminal Named Tim Melton >

2 out of 12 ain't bad -- Wait, yes it is | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden)

Honestly (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by LX on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 09:44:50 AM EST

Would you expect anything else from this long list of slugs? Note: District 15.

Lemmons Jr. LaMar D-2
Scott Bettie Cook D-3
Young II Coleman D-4
Johnson Bert D-5
Cheeks Marsha D-6
Smith Virgil D-7
Cushingberry Jr. George D-8
Jackson Shanelle D-9
Leland Gabe D-10
Hood III Morris D-11
Tobocman Steve D-12
Farrah Barbara D13
Clemente Ed D-14

Polidori Gino D-15 - Has ignored repeated requests to investigate the unconstitutional use of taxpayer money for `religious accommodations' at U of M-Dearborn for Muslim footbaths. My-man Gino work'n for me and all us taxpayers! ginopolidori@house.mi.gov

Constan Bob D-16
Dillon Andy D-17
LeBlanc Richard D-18
Corriveau Marc D-20
Hopgood Hoon-Yung D-22
Law Kathleen D-23
Bieda Steve D-25
Donigan Marie D-26
Meisner Andy D-27
Wojno Lisa D-28
Melton Tim D-29
Miller Fred D-31
Clack Brenda D-34
Condino Paul D-35
Vagnozzi Aldo D-37
Accavitti Jr. Frank D-42
Hammel Richard D-48
Gonzales Lee D-49
Hammon Ted D-50
Byrnes Pam D-52
Warren Rebekah D53
Smith Alma D-54
Angerer Kathy D-55
Ebli Kate D-56
Spade Dudley D-57
Jones Robert D-60
Griffin Martin D-64
Simpson Mike D-65
Byrum Barb D-67
Bauer Joan D-68
Meadows Mark D-69
Dean Robert D-75
Sak Michael D-76
Espinoza John D-83
Brown Terry D-84
Valentine Mary D-91
Bennett Doug D-92
Coulouris Andy D-95
Mayes Jeff D-96
Sheltrown Joel D-103
Gillard Matthew D-106
McDowell Gary D-107
Lindberg Steven D-109
Lahti Michael D-110

Nick Why so hard (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by PMOTVRWC on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 10:54:17 AM EST

on these poor working stiffs, afterall you probably don't understand how hard it is to raise campaign cash for the next election.

Just think, if every person in our congress and the governor put up just one years worth of campaign cash into the general fund we probably wouldn't have a deficit next year. Oh well wishful thinking.

At least the House is passing budget bills (1.00 / 1) (#3)
by NoviDemocrat on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 11:31:46 AM EST

what's the Senate been doing? Have they even been in session?

To NoviDemocrat by LX, 07/26/2007 11:56:31 AM EST (5.00 / 1)

Sweet! (1.00 / 1) (#5)
by NoviDemocrat on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 01:00:02 PM EST

Wow! 3 day workweeks that start at 10 AM? Where do I sign up for that work schedule?

Sweet! by John Galt, 07/26/2007 01:32:55 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Spoken like a true Dumb-o-cRAT (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by sandmman on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 01:05:16 PM EST

Seems all liberals want that.

Hey John Galt (none / 0) (#8)
by sandmman on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 01:40:01 PM EST

I'd imagine a Dumb-o-cRAT legislator should come quite cheaply!

If they aren't in session by Republican Michigander, 07/26/2007 02:53:16 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Why didn't I think of that! by sandmman, 07/26/2007 03:45:42 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Part Time Legislature (2.00 / 1) (#11)
by Rougman on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 04:01:24 PM EST

It appears that the legislature has no problem with being part time, their only problem is with being paid part time.

Rougman (none / 0) (#12)
by sandmman on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 04:24:59 PM EST

I don't quite agree - at least in my area. My State Rep worked in Lansing during the Independence Day summer vacation. He's also in Lansing during all of these extended weekends. He says it's great - it's the best way to get things accomplished.

I would hate for my rep to be holding down a full-time job 8 or 9 months out of the year and trying to contact him when I want to express an opinion or request assistance of some sort.

For all our current governor does, we could get one through ManPower or Labor Ready for the week or 10 days that we need one. Instead of a First Spouse we could have a First Answering Machine.

agree with this (none / 0) (#13)
by NoviDemocrat on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 05:09:48 PM EST

"It appears that the legislature has no problem with being part time, their only problem is with being paid part time."

You realize that the rest of (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by snoopygirlmi on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 06:07:11 PM EST

us would get fired if we took this much time off of work....

It's great... by John Galt, 07/26/2007 08:42:41 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Yes, John (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by PMOTVRWC on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 09:46:11 PM EST

and don't forget they get to give themselves pay raises and increase benefit packages for themselves when they retire.

So why won't (1.00 / 1) (#17)
by NoviDemocrat on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:20:15 AM EST

Republicans support a part-time legislature?

I don't know... by John Galt, 07/27/2007 07:57:06 AM EST (5.00 / 1)

Hey there, Novi Dumb-o-cRat (none / 0) (#19)
by sandmman on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 08:13:49 AM EST

Why won't the dumb-o-cRATs support part-time pay for their less-than-part-time work?

2 out of 12 ain't bad -- Wait, yes it is | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden)

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