‘The entire process has failed‘: Michigan corrections officers rally for stalled pension bills

LANSING, MI — More than 100 Michigan corrections officers gathered Thursday afternoon in Lansing demanding one thing: their pensions.

Chanting “pensions now” and holding a variety of signs calling for action from elected officials, the officers voiced their anger and frustration at lawmakers for approving a pension program, but failing to advance the legislation to the governor.

State legislators passed a trio of bills at the end of 2024 that would add corrections officers to the Michigan State Police retirement plan, a hybrid pension plan, comprised of both pension and and defined contribution or 401K-style components.

The bills, HB 4665, HB 4666 and HB 4667, passed both the state house and senate Dec. 31, at the tail end of the legislature’s lame duck session.

However, the bills have not yet been presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature or veto.

“When the bills got to that point and then they didn’t get brought to the governor’s office, it was crushing for morale,” said Dave Pasche, a correctional officer who has worked for the state for 23 years. “We watch young people come in and get burned out, and then they leave. I think if you have a pension, you have something there to help keep you there. It’s a hard job and we just want (lawmakers) to follow the constitution and get this legislation to the Governor.”

Michigan’s prison system has had a staffing crisis for years as the state struggles to bring in and keep its corrections officers.

Related: Alone with prisoners, no time away: Michigan corrections officers say they need relief

This means there are fewer officers available to keep order in the state’s prisons and make sure prisoners peacefully serve their sentences.

With a pension program in place, attracting and retaining officers would be more effective as there would be more incentive for the job, Michigan Corrections Organization President Byron Osborn said.

“We are here today not just to focus on an individual. We are here to focus on a lack of accountability and integrity in the entire legislative process right now, right up to the ranks of the governor,” Osborn said. “She has yet to make any public comment demanding that those bills be sent to her. Collectively, we believe the entire process has failed.”

The state Senate filed a lawsuit Feb. 3 against the House in the Michigan Court of Claims demanding Speaker of the House Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, present the passed bills, along with six others, to the governor.

Related: Michigan Senate Democrats file lawsuit against House Republicans over withheld bills

The lawsuit argued the House was violating the Michigan Constitution by withholding the bills.

Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima G. Patel ruled on the case, Feb. 27, stating the bills passed by the legislature must be presented to the governor at least 14 days before the legislation could take effect, but Patel did not assign a specific date.

Since taking power in January, House Republicans have withheld the bills, and six others, for a legal review. House Republicans have not disclosed to MLive the specific reasons for this review.

The state House passed a resolution March 12 directing the House clerk to present only bills passed this session to the governor.

In the resolution, the House contends is not obligated to present bills passed last session, when Democrats held the majority in the chamber.

The bills would also add conservation officers to the retirement plan.

“A pension obviously brings some security to retirement and actually allows you to kind of make a plan to retire eventually,” Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Ray Cardenas said. “Right now all I have is a 401K, so if the market plummets, everything I’ve worked for is significantly reduced. Growing up, my parents always told me you can make a good living and have a good retirement working for the state. That has gone by the wayside now.”

The case within the Court of Appeals is still ongoing.

For more news about the Michigan Department of Corrections, click here.