Senate Democrats demand action as House Republicans stall critical bills aimed at improving recruitment, retention, and retirement for Michigan corrections officers.
Senate Democrats Fight to Advance Blocked Retirement Bills
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s corrections officers are caught in the crossfire of political gridlock as House Speaker Matt Hall continues to withhold nine critical bills, including those designed to improve retirement options for law enforcement officers. Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield) is leading the charge to push the legislation forward, warning that the delay is worsening staffing shortages and endangering both officers and prisoners.
“House Republicans are putting the safety of our corrections officers and prisoners at risk,” said Shink during a special meeting of the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. “Each day Matt Hall refuses to fulfill his constitutional duty is another day corrections officers face unnecessary danger.”
The legislation in question, House Bills 4665–4667, was passed with bipartisan support last session. The bills would grant new corrections officers and state law enforcement officials access to the Michigan State Police hybrid retirement system while allowing current officers to opt into the improved plan. Despite broad support, the bills remain stalled.
Severe Staffing Shortages Plague Michigan Prisons
Michigan’s corrections system is facing a severe staffing shortage that has forced officers to work excessive overtime and deal with unsafe conditions. According to Ray Sholtz, Executive Director of the Michigan Corrections Organization, short-term solutions and increased overtime pay have failed to solve the problem.
“We need pensions that keep officers in the profession and allow them to retire with dignity,” said Sholtz. “Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on overtime while the staffing crisis grows worse.”
The crisis has reached a boiling point as over 6,000 Michigan corrections officers struggle under grueling workloads. Cary Johnson, a veteran officer at the Cotton Correctional Facility, provided testimony on the decline in staffing levels, saying officers are exhausted and prisons are becoming more dangerous.
“I’ve seen the days when we were fully staffed… those days are long gone,” said Johnson. “For the last seven years, the staffing crisis has made prisons both dangerous and exhausting.”
Senate Pushes Legal Action to Compel House Vote
In response to continued Republican inaction, the Senate adopted Resolution 3 last week, granting Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks authority to prepare legal action against the House of Representatives. The move aims to force Speaker Hall to submit the nine stalled bills to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signature.
The legislation’s delay has drawn harsh criticism from Senate Democrats, who accuse House Republicans of unconstitutional obstruction. They argue that blocking the bills prevents necessary recruitment efforts and worsens working conditions in Michigan prisons.
“We were elected to serve the people, not to cater to partisan obstruction,” said Shink. “Michigan deserves action, and we’re committed to delivering it no matter what.”
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