February 24, 2022
The Maps Are Complete, but the Michigan Redistricting Committee Just Gave Themselves a 7% Pay Raise
Lansing, Mich., February 24, 2022 – On the backs of Michigan taxpayers, Michigan’s “Independent” redistricting commission just voted to give themselves a seven percent pay raise, despite having already adopted maps on December 28. Every Democrat on the Commission voted in favor of the pay raise, including Rebecca Szetela, who lied about being a political Independent last year. Though there is seemingly no work left to be done, the embarrassingly self-indulgent Commission felt they deserved a large pay increase.
The Commission had already voted to pay themselves an annual salary $15,000 dollars higher than the constitutional requirement, now, this $3,850 pay increase puts their salaries at roughly $58,850 per year. That number now surpasses the annual median income for an entire Michigan household, though redistricting commissioner is only a part-time job. Michigan’s redistricting commission is already facing a nearly $1 million deficit, yet the commission continues to increase their pay when they should be scaling it back to nothing.
“This commission has wasted an excessive amount of taxpayer money on their ridiculous ego-driven documentary, blew past deadlines, and lied about who they were,” said Eric Ventimiglia, Executive Director for Michigan Rising Action. Ventimiglia continued, “Michigan taxpayers should not be forced to give them raises.”