DETROIT, August 22, 2025 – How broken is Lansing? In just a few weeks, classes start for Michigan’s 1.4 million children, but Legislators still have not passed a school budget. They missed the July 1 legal deadline, and now schools are sending layoff notices to teachers, cancelling programs and warning parents they might not be able to provide school lunches.
More than a month ago, Mike Duggan proposed a fix: A law that says that pay for state legislators would get suspended until they meet their legal obligation to pass a budget. Yesterday, that proposal was taken to the House floor—only to be killed by House Democrats.
“Schools are sending layoff notices to teachers, but legislators just voted to protect their own paychecks instead of looking out for our kids,” said Duggan.
It is just the latest example of how broken Lansing has become.
“It’s time to end politics as usual. And clearly, that change isn’t going to come from Lansing. It’ll take the public to do it,” said Duggan. “Contact your legislators and send a clear message: If you don’t do your jobs, you shouldn’t get paid. Get back on the House floor and pass the legislator accountability bill.”
