Rep. McBroom offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 140.
Whereas, Article IV, Section 16 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 provides, in relevant part:
Each house, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, shall choose its own officers and determine the rules of its proceedings… Each house shall be the sole judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its members….
; and
Whereas, Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 provides, in relevant part:
All officers, legislative, executive and judicial, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of .......... according to the best of my ability.
; and
Whereas, House Rule 41(1) states, in relevant part:
All bills to be introduced shall be approved as to form and numbering of sections by the Legislative Service Bureau and be signed by the Member introducing them.
; and
Whereas, House Rule 74(4) states, in relevant part:
A Member shall not convert for personal, business and/or campaign use, unrelated to House business, any supplies, services, facilities, or staff provided by the State of Michigan. This includes, but is not limited to, telephones, telecopy machines, computers, postage, and copy machines.
; and
Whereas, Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.257, states, in relevant part:
A public body or a person acting for a public body shall not use or authorize the use of funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, postage, vehicles, equipment, supplies, or other public resources to make a contribution or expenditure…
; and
Whereas, The Principles and Guidelines for House Staff, dated January 23, 2015, states, in relevant part:
House resources—e.g., your time on the job, office space, office property, equipment, and supplies—must be used only for official House business… The use of House resources for non-official House business—e.g., campaign, fundraising, commercial, charitable, or personal activities—is strictly prohibited.
; and
Whereas, Each Representative has a duty to conduct himself or herself in such a manner as to justify the confidence placed in him or her by the people and must, by personal example and admonition to colleagues, maintain the integrity and responsibility of his or her office; and
Whereas, Representative Todd Courser has engaged in a pattern of misconduct while in office that included the misuse of state resources in violation of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives and state statute; and
Whereas, Representative Todd Courser’s actions have drawn national attention to the state of Michigan and the Michigan House of Representatives, shaking the public trust and confidence in this legislative body, striking the honor, dignity, and integrity of this body, and distracting from the serious policy issues and debates in front of this body; and
Whereas, Public trust and confidence in government are prerequisites to the functioning of a democratic society; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That Representative Todd Courser of the Eighty-Second House District, State of Michigan, has conducted acts inconsistent with the trust and duties of a state representative. He has failed to maintain the integrity and responsibility of this office and to meet his solemn obligation to the people of the state of Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That in accordance with the above-cited provisions of the Constitution of the State of Michigan and the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives, Representative Todd Courser is hereby censured by the Michigan House of Representatives; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to Representative Todd Courser.