Written by Bill Mohr | 29 May 2009

When is enough enough? 

Michigan State Representative Fred Durhal, D-Detroit, soon after assuming his new position as public servant, decided to undertake one of Michigan's most pressing issues.  Apparently, the taxpayers of the State of Michigan were not providing enough perks and services to their lawmakers, and by introducing HB 4229 Representative Durhal seemingly believes that problem will be solved.

House Bill 4229 (full text below) will allow (or force) the taxpayers to not only provide every survivor of a deceased lawmaker a new state flag upon the survivor's request, but also provide a State Police Escort for the lawmaker's funeral procession!  This bill was introduced by Durhal and co-sponsored by 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans.  Who in the world do they think they are?

The Michigan lawmakers are already the second highest paid lawmakers in the nation.  According to Mackinac Center for Public Policy, those lawmakers who chair appropriations committees in the House and Senate receive $7,000; the leaders of the minority parties receive $22,000; the majority leader in the Senate receives $26,000; the speaker of the house an additional $27,000; and all the lawmakers get an expense account of $12,000.  All this is on top of their petty annual salary of $79,650.  Just to keep things in perspective, Florida lawmakers get $30,336, Texas $7,200, and Georgia $17,342.

HOUSE BILL No. 4229

February 10, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Durhal, Bettie Scott, Johnson, Jackson, Womack, Young, Robert Jones, Roy Schmidt, Hansen, LeBlanc, Constan, Cushingberry, Spade, Tlaib, Genetski, Haines, Green, McMillin and Donigan and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

A bill to provide for the distribution of state flags to eligible legislators' survivors; and to provide state police escorts for eligible legislators' funeral processions.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the

"Michigan legislative funeral act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act:

(a) "Eligible legislator" means a current or former member of

the state senate or state house of representatives.

(b) "Survivor" means a spouse, parent, or child of an eligible

legislator.

Sec. 5. If requested by a survivor, the legislature shall do

both of the following upon the death of an eligible legislator:

(a) Present 1 state flag to the survivor on behalf of the

state in recognition of the eligible legislator's service to this

state.

(b) Provide a state police escort for the funeral procession

of the eligible legislator.