Mich. Government Partially Shut Down

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Michigan's state government partially shut down early Monday with no budget deal in place for the new fiscal year.

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm was still awaiting key votes in the Republican-controlled Senate after 12:01 a.m., the deadline for approving a state budget. The state has no authority to spend money without a budget in place.

Parts of a temporary budget fix that would have avoided a shutdown were approved Sunday, but lawmakers at midnight were still scrambling to reach a deal on tax increases to help plug a $1.75 billion deficit.

Granholm was waiting for the Legislature to send her the tax increases before she would sign a 30-day budget extension.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_re_us/michigan_budget_28

[cyclezealot]

1. The Detroit Free Press says a budget resoltion was passed

at 3:45 AM. The Democrats should take no crap about this. The Republican State Legislature let 1.8 Billion in business taxes just expire without a full budget analysis and just let the governor make their cuts for them. Michigan needs a mandatory statement of budget affect on each and every proposed bill and budget action. The 1.8 Billion the Republicans just let expire is 20% of the state budget and they think that can be just made up. They . the GOP state legislature of last year, must take their budget priorities from BUsh's budget director.

[cyclezealot]

2. & now the Oakland Cnty. GOP Azz holes

are threatening those who voted for the new taxes with a recall against the legislators who voted for it. According to today's Free Press. and they have the audacity to call themselves "Save Michigan's Children' as they know the result is closed schoools and higher college tuition. They pulled this crap when Jim Blanchard was governor and Mich faced a billion dollar deficit. That is when the Repukes took over the State Senate and why Democrats would have been foolish to not pull in Repuke votes in getting a new budget resolution. They call this ilk, rule or ruin.
The Michigan press has been critical of Democrats of not getting behind their governor and supporting these taxes. They knew a recall was eminent and had no choice. Must say there were like four brave Repukes who had more regards for Michigan's future than their own careers. The anti tax group will also promise a recall against the Republicans who braved these special interest groups and voted for Michigan.
I'd bet you will find some connection between these recall people and Grover Norquist. Will the Michigan press stand behind these brave legislators.

[cal04]

3. Michigan lawmakers reach budget deal

The state Legislature agreed early Monday to raise the income tax and expand the sales tax to services in a deal with the governor that quickly ended a partial state government shutdown.

For a little more than four hours, fewer state police patrolled Michigan highways, campgrounds were closed and road construction projects and lottery sales were stopped.

Applause broke out in Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office when the final vote was announced at 4:18 a.m.

"This budget agreement is the right solution for Michigan," Granholm said in a statement. "We prevented massive cuts to public education, health care and public safety while also making extensive government reforms and passing new revenue. With the state back on solid financial footing, we can turn our focus to the critical task of jump-starting our economy and creating new jobs."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_re_us/michigan_budget

[Festivito]

4. We have BAD publiCONs in Michigan. FEAR FEAR FEAR

But, we have them a little at bay.

The media is having a field day projecting what would close, then, after the agreement, what would have closed. (They worked so hard compiling that list.)

I hear that our Dem gov is ... (insert publiCON talking point here).

I hope she spends a little time and money on correcting some of the RW propaganda.

[cyclezealot]

5. political battles never end

Now the anti tax people want to recall the legislators who voted for the tax package. These people are totally unreasonable, they must be taken on. WHen they responded to the Blanchard deficit, they won and the state suffered from Engler's repeated tax cuts for over twenty years. Let's not let them get away with it this time around. The recall people must be taken head on, or else the Headley anti tax people will be out to destroy the state.

[Festivito]

7. They want to drown DEMOCRACY in a bathtub.

Render it toothlessly ineffective with elected officials that smile to cameras about which selected contractors paid for their election such that they will now receive the new contract, except that that decision could be outsourced as well -- maybe they'll be able to hand out keys to the city and state.

Oh boy! Makes you want to go out right now and fight for democracy in some far off resource rich country. :eyes:

[cyclezealot]

6. people always B!t@ch.

Don't want business taxes, nuissance taxes, and now luxury taxes are considered bad. The Mich tax compromise. All the belly aching with a 4.5 % income tax. Do you consider these objectionable taxes. Such as a sales tax on your limo server. I'd say a luxury like that might better be taxed above the 6% rate.
From Today's Free Press.


Some service businesses with lobbying clout in the Legislature escaped the new sales tax. Among them were golf courses, real estate and cable and satellite television companies. The cable industry, in particular, lobbied hard after word circulated that it would be taxed.

Among companies targeted for the new tax are janitorial services, landscapers, couriers, car services, consultants, investment advisers, private investigators and others.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/BUSINESS06/710020318