New plan requires timely budgets and new accountability

State Rep. Joseph Pavlov (R-Smiths Creek) voted in support for House Joint Resolution M, a proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution designed to promote fiscal responsibility by requiring that budget bills be passed by July 1 each year. If legislators blow past the deadline under this plan, they would stop being paid by the taxpayers.

HJR M proposed amending the Michigan Constitution to set firm deadlines for enacting annual budgets. The state has a July 1 deadline, but the lack of enforcement means the state often ignores it, costing schools and local governments critical time to prepare their own budgets. This year, for example, House Republicans and Gov. Whitmer were working to finish the state’s budget for schools on July 1 when the Senate Democrats adjourned and went home. Senate Democrat leaders have since said they’re willing to blow past the deadline, and the state’s school budget remains unfinished nearly two months later.

“If you don’t show up to work, you don’t get paid,” Rep. Pavlov said. “That’s just common sense. Government gridlock is leaving our community hanging and forcing schools to guess how many teachers they can hire and how many textbooks they can buy. We need to take strong action to break that cycle and get Lansing back to work. That’s what I voted for, and that’s what I support.”

HJR M was brought up for a vote in the Michigan House on August 21. The resolution received a bipartisan majority of 70 yes votes, but constitutional changes require two thirds of the House – 74 votes – to pass. The resolution failed with all House Republicans in support and House Democrats divided.

“Some of us did the right thing and passed an education budget back in June,” Rep. Pavlov said. “But even I voted for cutting my own pay, because that’s the right thing to do. What I’m discovering at the Capitol is a lot of these politicians are too busy looking out for number one to do the right thing and make tough decisions. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to force them to have a little skin in the game to get things done. This vote would have done just that.”