Will Voters Decide on Part-Time Legislature

The Board of State Canvassers is now trying to determine whether petition language aimed at having voters in Michigan decide whether there is a full or part-time legislature will move forward.

The wording of the ballot proposal is the first step toward putting the issue on the ballot.  Members of the group "The Committee to Restore a Part-time Legislature" say say there is no need to have members of the State House and Senate considered full time when they are in session less than half the year.

They will have to collect nearly 323,000 valid signitures to put the issue on the ballot in November.  If the petition language is approved, organizers would have until July 7th to collect those signitures.

As part of the change in hours in Lansing, would come a change in pay as well.  The group is opting to have lawmakers' salaries cut from more than $70,000 a year to $35,000.

Some, like Michigan Senator Rick Jones says voters should do their homework on making the change.  He says lawmakers are contacted every day to help someone with a problem and do plenty of work even when they're not in session.  Jones also says the move would give much more power to the governor's office.