Originally published Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Michigan Senate sends 6 budget bills to governor
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop sent the final six budget bills Tuesday to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but he warned her not to expect any additional money for programs she wants to restore.
Associated Press Writer
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop sent the final six budget bills Tuesday to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but he warned her not to expect any additional money for programs she wants to restore.
"Do not veto portions of these budgets with the expectation that money will be reappropriated at a later date to fund the vetoed programs," he wrote in a letter to the Democratic governor. "There is not sufficient support in the Senate Republican caucus for tax increases and for you to think otherwise is a mistake."
The bills cover general government expenses, human services, state police, community health, higher education, and energy, labor and economic growth. They passed both the House and Senate 20 days ago, but were put on hold in a parliamentary move by Republicans who control the Senate.
Bishop said he held onto the bills because he didn't want Granholm to veto portions and leave the state with a deficit. But Granholm said Bishop needs to compromise to save important programs.
"We're encouraging everyone to be open to compromise and to avoid drawing lines in the sand," Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said in response to Bishop's letter.
Granholm and the Senate majority leader have locked horns for weeks over the budget for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1. The state is operating under an interim budget that expires Oct. 31, and the governor must act on the bills by then or risk another government shutdown.
She has signed all the other budget bills and vetoed spending in some of them. She doesn't plan to entirely veto any of the remaining six but said she may veto portions.
Granholm says limited tax and fee increases are needed in the permanent budget to pay for college scholarships, Medicaid, K-12 education and money local governments use for police and fire protection. Bishop says he and other Senate Republicans see no need for additional tax revenue.
Granholm says the Senate hasn't finished its job because it passed a public schools budget without including enough revenue to cover its costs.
On Monday, she vetoed $54 million from the $12.9 billion budget bill because she said there's a shortfall of as much as $264 million in the plan. Most of the vetoed funds would have gone to 39 school districts that get among the highest per-pupil payments statewide - some nearly $4,000 more than the lowest per-pupil grant.
"As you know, these are districts that are represented by both Democrats and Republicans," Granholm said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. "We need to raise revenue so we aren't cut with devastating cuts with the schools. ... There are no easy solutions to this size a hole in the school aid budget."
Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
Sunday Buzz: Expedia, Intelius, Classmates slapped by Senate report
Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
UPDATE - 08:56 PM
Senate Democrats at odds over health care bill
Your Funds: Money for nothing: Some investors pay for advice they never get

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake is handed the 2009 MLS Cup trophy at Qwest Field, November 22, 2009.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Tugboat sinks on Seattle's waterfront
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
128 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
122 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
120 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
119 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
57 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
52 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
51
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'





