KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — Lt. Gov. Brian Calley is denying claims from critics that his push for a part-time legislature in Michigan is a stunt to drum support from conservatives for a gubernatorial run.
In an interview with WKZO-AM/FM on Friday, Calley said that charge doesn’t line up with the facts.
“I put this on the table in 2009 when I, myself, was in the legislature,” Calley said. “I looked around and saw just how inefficent the system was, that it was built on posturing and procrastination and politics.”
He also claimed his proposal would fix those problems.
“If you had a limited session, it would force (legislators) to get the important work done,” Calley said. “The other thing I’m proposing is that we pay our legislators something more comparable to what we see around the country. For a three-month session, they’d get around $31,000.”
Rep. Larry Inman, R-Williamsburg, reportedly told MIRS News the idea was “horrible,” and nothing more than a “Hail Mary football pass to become governor.”
Re-written petitions to get the question on next November’s ballot hit the streets this week.
Calley would not say whether he was considering a run for the Republican nomination for governor.
