Michigan Lawmakers rake it in

The Detriot News reports:

In the face of billions of dollars in cuts to state programs and services over the past five years, Michigan maintains the nation's sixth costliest Legislature with lawmakers drawing fatter paychecks than all but their counterparts in California.

State records reviewed by The Detroit News also show the budget for the Legislature has increased 14 percent since 2000, when the state's economy started the nosedive from which it has yet to recover. The state budget as a whole increased 11 percent during that time, mostly to pay for higher costs in health care for the poor and for prisons, roads and public schools.

That's government for you.