Before the Legislature breaks for two weeks of vacation, Gov. John Engler is hoping to move an early retirement plan for judges through the Senate and into immediate effect.

The plan, which would offer bonus benefits for judges who retire early, has been criticized by many Democrats as “court-packing” and bribery.

“It’s a blatant, despicable power grab,” Rep. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, said. “The goal is to change the landscape for justice for the next 20 to 30 years and allow an outgoing governor to retain control over the political program.”

The estimated 150 judges who would be eligible for early retirement would not be forced to accept the benefits, but those who did accept would be replaced by Engler’s appointees.

Matt Resch, spokesman for the governor, said the goal was not political power but to help streamline northern Michigan’s courts and give judges who do not want to change with the times a chance to retire with extra advantages.

“The idea of reforming the family court has a lot of appeal, and this is one way of doing that,” Resch said.

The bill has been linked to Engler’s Early Out bill, a retirement package for state employees that would save the state money and give employees with a certain number of years experience the opportunity to retire early - with more benefits.

“The way we see it, these are two issues that are almost exactly the same,” Resch said. “From our sense, these are cut-and-dried issues. It’s a good thing for state employees, judges, and family courts.”

But some legislators do not agree.

“It’s sad to use state workers as political footballs and to leave them in limbo by attaching a totally unrelated bill that has clear suspicions of political overtones onto the early retirement bill,” said Rep. Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston.

DeWeese said he hopes to separate the bills and pass the state employee bill by itself.

“This is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to pack the court,” DeWeese said. “We passed a streamlined court bill out of the House (Tuesday). It’s possible that it might deny the early retirement bill because immediate effect needs a two-thirds vote.”

Engler doesn’t have two-thirds of the vote yet, but he only needs two more votes - likely from Democrats.

Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-Onondaga, declined to support the bill based on similar experiences with the Lansing City Council.

“I have very strong feelings on the premise that we should not be giving early retirement deals to elected officials in general,” Byrum said. “When the Lansing City Council passed a bill like this it undermined elected officials, the public had more distrust of their government, it didn’t save money and it created a lot of tension and turmoil in the community that lasted for years.”

DeWeese agreed.

“It doesn’t save the state any money, and it gives judges a gargantuan, disproportionate retirement package. It raises the issue of equity.”

The Senate is expected to take action on the bill today.