It's about time

Marc Corriveay, a Democrat from Northville, has the right idea. He's seeking to end the use of state-owned vehicles by Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges. Sounds like the kind of cost-cutting Michigan needs. The annual $400,000 it saves may not seem like much but enough of these small, baby steps will bridge the budget deficit.

Democrats launch bid to take state-owned vehicles from judges
April 16, 2007
by Chris Christoff
Free Press Lansing Bureau

LANSING - House Democrats plan to announce plans today to end the use of state-owned vehicles by Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges.

Rep. Marc Corriveau, D-Northville, is to sponsor legislation to end the long-standing perk, detailed in a Free Press report April 8.

The report noted that in addition to nine Supreme Court justices and 28 appeals judges, 10 Supreme Court staff members are also given cars for personal use and official court business, at a total cost to the state of $423,000 last fiscal year.

The practice of giving taxpayer-funded cars to high court judges dates to 1965.