The speaker of the Michigan House has ordered representatives to cut their office budgets by almost 14 percent. Smaller cuts were also ordered for Democratic and Republican party staff and non-partisan House of Representatives staff.
House Speaker Jase Bolger says the cuts are necessary to keep the state’s budget balanced. He says the reductions do not necessarily mean there will be layoffs.
"It could be done through attrition, it could be done by reining in other expenses. It could be done by making salary adjustments within those office staffs. So it’s up to the member how they handle that and it won’t necessarily mean layoffs, but it could."
The cuts come on top of 10 percent pay reductions that took effect for lawmakers earlier this year. Bolger says there will be an announcement made soon about cuts to health care benefits for House members and staff.
