With so many in Michigan making sacrifices, Senator Gretchen Whitmer says it's time legislators do the same.

"We need to lead by example here Lansing," Whitmer said.

Starting with lawmaker expense accounts -- that's $12,000 per year on top of lawmakers' nearly $80,000 paycheck -- to spend, Whitmer said, however they want.

"For some people there are legitimate reasons, like they travel from the UP, Whitmer said, "but for the rest of us, it's questionable and at the very least, people should know where that money is going."

Whitmer proposed a bill that would force lawmakers to post receipts online. Soon, she hopes to propose one that would cut lawmaker pay and eliminate lifetime health coverage too.

"After six years of service, it doesn't make sense to have such a luxurious health care package when people are struggling or don't have health care at all," she said.

For the most part, the lawmakers we talked to agree with Whitmer's reforms, but some said she's a little late to the game. Representative Paul Opsommer already put all of his financial reports on his website, which voters can see with the click of a mouse.

"Gretchen's doing a little grandstanding today because she's running for attorney general," Representative Rick Jones said.

Jones said he and other lawmakers have already introduced bills like Whitmer's, and says he has no problem with complete transparency.

"I'm happy to do that," Jones said. "All the expense money I get is spent on gasoline."

Whitmer said not everyone's on board though, which hasn't made her too popular on the Senate floor.

"I can't believe people would be so callous to put cuts on the backs of our kids, not share in the sacrifice, then leave for vacation," Whitmer said. "It's wrong, so I'm going to keep pushing [these reforms.]"

Whitmer said until her bill becomes law, she's donating her monthly expense allowance to local charities. It's up to the leadership in the house or the senate to move Whitmer's or any lawmaker's bill to committee.