Two Democratic legislators proposed Wednesday that an outside credit counselor be brought in to remedy Michigan’s budget shortfall.

House Democratic Leader Rep. Samuel “Buzz” Thomas, D-Detroit, and House Appropriations Minority Vice Chairman Rep. A.T. Frank, D-Saginaw, said there is a need to for outside aid in dealing with the budget at a press conference.

“The economic picture keeps getting bleaker,” Thomas said. “We need someone with unfettered access to the books.”

But House Appropriations Vice Chairman Charles LaSata, R-St. Joseph, called the suggestion “silly.”

“The state faces a serious time now and we need serious leaders,” LaSata said. “If the Democratic leader and minority vice chair of appropriations need outside help, they’re more than welcome to resign their seats and let someone qualified for their positions take over.”

Thomas said he’s not asking for someone to do his job.

“(A credit counselor) can suggest where spending is inefficient,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’ll have to make the legislation.”

Thomas said, many economic leaders and financial planners have been approached and are very interested. He said they’d been seeking someone to volunteer time but can’t say who has been approached so far.

Senate Fiscal Agency Director Gary Olson had had no comment on Thomas and Frank’s suggestion, but said “the budget will be balanced.”

Earlier this month, House Democrats released suggested cuts to eliminate $200 million from the budget. The suggestions included merging Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources and cutting the administrative budget.

Thomas said the majority party should take their ideas into account.

“It’s increasingly clear they don’t have a plan,” he said. “We would hope they would take a suggestion for a change.”