The Reform Michigan Government Now group says it aims to streamline government. The proposal would reduce government officials’ salaries and cap the number of state departments at 18, in addition to reducing the number of legislators and judges.
“That seems to be a perverse definition of streamlining,” Sanderson said of the reduction of judges. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Michael Nye, Chief Probate Judge at the Hillsdale Circuit Court, said the proposal raises the question of when voters should stop cutting back on the number of judges. If five judges work more efficiently than seven, that logic might lead to handing all the power to one judge eventually.
Nye said he didn’t trust the reductions in the number of legislators, either.
“By decreasing the number of senators and the number of representatives, what you’re actually doing is cutting back representation for the people,” he said.
[Read the whole story here at the Hillsdale Daily News.]
Tags: Don Sanderson, judges, Michael Nye, Michigan legislature, Michigan Supreme Court, Reform Michigan Now, representation
July 25, 2008 at 10:54 am
isn’t it amazing all the fervor about this initiative?? And it appears to be all from republicans?? The afraid of losing their jobs? This initiative makes so much sense in this economy, and due to too much government in this state that it’s not even funny. I support the group 110%, and I agree with Diane Byrum’s comment on this morning’s news. Instead of all these silly lawsuits tying up court dockets, let the voters decide!! Oh wait… they voted for term limits huh? Probably means they’ll vote for this too… sue instead. NOT. Let the people speak!!!