KALAMAZOO -- Republicans have been talking for months about squaring the state budget with just cuts and no tax hikes, but what will it cost?
Democrats have now gone on the counter offensive, laying out exactly what republicans want to cut. Things like education funding, money for local police and fire departments, breaking the Michigan Promise and cutting funds for public health, Medicare, and job retraining.
There is a lot of talk about a budget deal in Lansing, but there is no deal. There is just a frame work for possible targets for cuts.
We have learned that not only is their division between the parties, but splits within both the Senate Republican and House Democratic Majorities about the direction their own leaders have taken.
And there is still a lot of partisan give and take over whether they can do it without increasing state revenues by eliminating tax loopholes or extending the sales tax to vending machines.
The Democratic Governor and Speaker agree on revenue hikes but disagree how to do it. Senate Republicans want nothing but cuts…but the program cuts they want to make are opposed by the Governor and many in the House. A budget deal? Not even close.
Kalamazoo Democrat Robert Jones says those are simply intolerable and he says his supporters know it. There is general agreement on 7 of the 12 budget areas, but no consensus at all on those 5.
While state leaders are outwardly talking about budget deals, behind the scenes they are reportedly working on a plan to avoid a government shut down with a continuing resolution that would continue state operations at current funding levels for a month. When pressed, they are calling it a worst case scenario, but one that would be irresponsible
