LANSING – State Senator Gretchen Whitmer announced today that she will be donating her full legislative expense stipend to charity each month and posting how she uses the account online. As the budget crisis forces the slashing of public safety and education, Sen. Whitmer has called for significant reforms to legislative pay and benefits.

“We as legislators should be putting our money where our mouths are and make some tough financial decisions of our own,” said Sen. Whitmer. “These legislative expense accounts are another perk that Michigan can no longer afford and if they are used for official purposes the least we can do is be accountable and transparent about it.”

Last week, Sen. Whitmer sent a letter urging the State Officers Compensation Commission to meet again this year to consider additional reforms. Whitmer has called for immediate changes that would: Cut legislators’ pay; restrict legislative expense accounts; pro-rate legislators’ pay each time local schools are sent a letter pro-rating their funding; end taxpayer-funded lifetime health care benefits for legislators; reduce the salaries of legislators who miss session; require candidates seeking public office to disclose their income and assets.

“We need to lead by example and start changing the out-of-touch culture in Lansing . That’s why I will keep donating my expense money to charity until we finally see some real reform,” Whitmer said. “I hope that my legislative colleagues will consider doing the same.”

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