State Rep. Ann Bollin today issued the following statement after the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission voted to give themselves a 40% raise while they redraw maps that a federal court ruled were drawn in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution:

“The redistricting commission’s decision to grant themselves a raise in the face of their own failures shows a flagrant disregard for the very principles of public service they were entrusted to uphold.

“For some time now, redistricting commissioners have received their salaries, which are constitutionally mandated to reflect a quarter of the governor’s pay, while being called upon to do relatively little in terms of substantive work. Despite the lack of work, they justified their taxpayer-funded inaction by citing legal challenges over the maps they originally drew – maps that were deemed unconstitutional by the courts.

“Instead of accepting responsibility and diligently working to rectify the situation, some of the commissioners now see fit to reward themselves for the additional work required to fix their own mistakes. This decision sends a dangerous message that mistakes will be met with rewards rather than corrected through genuine effort and improvement.

“The people of Michigan deserve better. They deserve commissioners who prioritize integrity, accountability, and genuine public service over self-interest and personal gain. The commissioners who voted for this raise need to reevaluate their priorities and remember their duty to serve the people, not their own pockets. Their actions underscore the urgent need for reform and a renewed commitment from the Secretary of State, who has a duty to provide guidance to the commission.”

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