Tagged: Michigan legislature

Lobbying is normal in the course of public business, but when the government lobbies itself, the practice can involve taxpayer resources used to pursue a political agenda. Like expanding a state-run district that manages underachieving schools. Restructuring a major health care insurer. Or enacting right to work.

LANSING - Massive demonstrations at the Capitol last month over right-to-work legislation reportedly cost Michigan taxpayers nearly $1 million. Michigan State Police spent $901,132 on overtime pay and other miscellaneous costs because of additional security brought to the Capitol between Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, spokeswoman Shanon Banner said.

Eighty-one days. That was the total number of days Michigan's full-time Legislature worked in Lansing in 2012. From mid-June through the last week of November, when many members of the House of Representatives were campaigning for re-election, they put in a whopping 10 days of work in the state capital.

Despite the bruised feelings and the lingering anger that permeates the Democratic caucus yet today, you can see the possibility of Democrats putting the Right to Work angst behind them. And if you look even closer you can actually see a path toward bipartisan cooperation taking shape.