Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, issued the following statement Tuesday after the Senate approved a proposal for the November ballot that would reform financial disclosure requirements and term limits in the state.
“The people of Michigan decided to adopt legislative term limits decades ago and it should be up to them to approve changes that address any unintended consequences that have arisen.
“In my view, Michigan’s current term limits discourage good people from running for office, shifting the power from the people to the bureaucracy and interest groups, which negatively impacts the legislative process.
“By enabling lawmakers to serve out all their time in one chamber, even if for an overall shorter period of 12 years instead of the current 14, individuals would be free to focus on issues that are important to the communities they represent rather than on their next career move.
“Likewise, it is also important that we strike a reasonable balance when it comes to the financial information elected officials must disclose to help make government more transparent, and not further discourage good folks from running for office.
“This bipartisan proposal sensibly addresses these concerns, while offering Michigan voters the ultimate say — not lawmakers who may have conflicted interests.”
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