Lawmakers launch session, await State of the State

House Speaker Chuck Perri (R-Kalamazoo Township) said the House will deal with the State Officers Compensation Commission report that recommends raises for elected officials.

Under the commission's proposal, Gov. John Engler would get a 9 percent raise this year and next, while Supreme Court justices would get an 8 percent increase this year and 4.5 percent more in 2000. Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus and all lawmakers would get 3.5 percent increases this year and next.

The increases automatically take effect unless the Legislature rejects them by a two-thirds vote in each chamber by Feb. 1.

Senate leaders say they have no intention of taking up the matter in that chamber, making it all but certain that the raises will take effect.

But some Democratic and Republican newcomers in the House have criticized the propriety of taking raises in their first week on the job.

Perricone voted against the commission's recommended pay hikes in 1995 and 1997. But he has changed his mind this time around.

"There should be a different pay scale for department directors and the governor. Because the governor is committed to recruiting the best talent for Michigan, that salary range for director has bumped up against what he makes as governor," the House speaker said.

Perricone called the 3.5 percent hike for lawmakers fair and reasonable. "They have to step away from what they are doing for six years, take a pay cut in some cases and face media scrutiny," he said.

Despite Perricone's preference to accept the pay increases, he said he won't stop other members who feel a need to protest the hike.

"Oh, there will be a vote. I have not counted noses. I don't know where the members are," he said.

A handful of representatives have noisily opposed the hikes, including Rep. Andrew Neuman (D-Alpena) and Rep. Scott Shackleton (R-Sault Ste. Marie).

Neumann wrote a letter last month before the commission issued its recommendations urging it not to recommend a pay increase for legislators.

"We have not introduced a bill, cast a vote, or even occupied our offices. Yet we face the prospect of a pay raise," Neumann wrote on Dec. 5.

Another freshman, Rep. Clark Bisbee (R-Jackson) has even introduced a resolution that would require a majority of legislators approve pay raises for them to take effect instead letting them take effect unless lawmakers reject them.

"We need to take responsibility for our actions as lawmakers," Bisbee said.

The Legislature can accept some recommendations, such as Supreme Court raises, while rejecting others, such as legislative or gubernatorial boosts - if both chambers vote.

"I think there's well over two-thirds in the House who would vote to reject the pay raise," Neumann said. "My understanding is it (a vote to reject the increases) won't fly at all in the Senate. It makes me feel like the freshmen, at least in the House, are more responsible about this."

Other than the debate over pay hikes, little is expected to happen in the House or Senate this week. Tax-cut fever will be limited to committee action in the Senate, which may put the matter off for another week.

For the most part, state lawmakers are expected to settle into their new offices, arrange their new desks and wait the governor to outline the Republican agenda Thursday in his State of the State address.

"It's going to be all perfunctory stuff," said Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Rogers (R-Brighton). "John Engler will set the tone for the Legislature. ... We have to make sure we're all singing from the same hymnal."

Rogers emerged last week as the second-in-command among Senate GOP lawmakers. He was selected floor leader after Sen. Michael Bouchard of Birmingham resigned to become Oakland County sheriff.

Sen. Joanne Emmons (R-Big Rapids) said the Finance Committee she heads could open discussion this week on an income tax cut. Such a bill passed the Senate last year, but foundered in the then-Democrat-controlled House.

But now that the House is under Republican control, the Legislature is expected to be more favorably inclined.

"It's up for debate whether we wait for the governor or not," Emmons said, referring to whether the committee will postpone acting on tax relief until after the State of the State address.

"I don't see any enthusiasm for not giving the money back if we have the money to give back."

01-25-99