LANSING – A plan to end the practice of supplying taxpayer-financed cars for the personal use of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges and their staffers is gaining momentum, with the state's seven members of the Michigan Supreme Court set to turn in their taxpayer-funded cars.
"While I praise our judges for voluntarily turning in their taxpayer-funded cars, I still believe we need to bring an end to the practice of providing our judges and their staff with free vehicles for personal use," said State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids). "Our taxpayers don't need to be shelling out thousands of dollars for personal-use vehicles. Our public officials, who are well compensated for their work, should be purchasing their own vehicles."
The state spends $423,000 a year on cars for Michigan's seven Supreme Court justices, 28 Appeals Court judges and 10 court staff members. Corriveau last week proposed a plan to bring an end to the decades-long practice of giving free cars to Supreme Court and Appellate Court judges for their personal use. The vehicles are not limited to business use; they can be used for personal errands such as shopping trips, golf outings and even vacations.
Dean argued that taxpayer-funded vehicles are not guaranteed for top judges elsewhere. Supreme Court and Appellate Court judges in neighboring states such as Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana do not get them. Not even federal judges, appointed for life, are entitled to use a publicly financed car.
"No where else are judges awarded taxpayer-funded vehicles," Dean said. "I am calling for an end to the special treatment. Every part of state government needs to tighten its belt, including our judges."