State Rep. Karl Bohnak on Thursday supported a plan, House Joint Resolution M, that would suspend legislator pay if a state budget is not signed into law by the statutory July 1 deadline.

“I came to Lansing to get things done, and that starts with finishing a state budget on time,” said Bohnak, R-Deerton. “It’s been incredibly frustrating to see a lack of urgency from my fellow lawmakers as we try to finalize a bipartisan budget so our schools, critical services, and local units of government can begin to prepare for next year. If I had just stopped doing the weather but still showed up to collect my check, there is no way I would’ve kept getting paid. Similarly, politicians in Lansing shouldn’t keep getting a check after a critical deadline has long passed. I was proud to support this effort to stop rewarding lawmakers who just aren’t doing their job.”

The change would require an amendment to the Michigan Constitution, which requires two-thirds support in both the state House and Senate. The measure failed to meet that mark in the House, due to a lack of bipartisan support.

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