The Dems have finished their caucus, so now we can meet in Tax Committee.
These should be easy votes.
Pete
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Now it starts.
We are FINALLY back in session and there is a call of the house. That means no member is allowed to leave the chambers or the immediate area.
The Dems just went into caucus where the Gov joined them.
I believe this means votes on higher taxes will begin today. Bring em on. Let's see where all the members of the legislature stand.
Pete
The Dems just went into caucus where the Gov joined them.
I believe this means votes on higher taxes will begin today. Bring em on. Let's see where all the members of the legislature stand.
Pete
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Shut Down Over
After a brief shut down we have a deal and be state is open again.
Still trying to get all the details.
We will be back in session at noon.
Pete
Still trying to get all the details.
We will be back in session at noon.
Pete
SHUTDOWN
We are shut down.
The Senate meets again at 12:15 am.
We will see if they pass the continuation budget.
Pete
The Senate meets again at 12:15 am.
We will see if they pass the continuation budget.
Pete
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Last Minute
The only way a shut down stops is if the Senate passes the continuation budget.
I have heard of deals being cut, but no official word.
The clock in the House has been stopped.
Pete
I have heard of deals being cut, but no official word.
The clock in the House has been stopped.
Pete
T-60 minutes
Still no movement here.
I am starting to wonder if there is any way a shut down can be stopped. Maybe only for a few hours, but it seems likely.
Pete
I am starting to wonder if there is any way a shut down can be stopped. Maybe only for a few hours, but it seems likely.
Pete
t-1.5 hours
We still have not taken any action in hours.
The Senate just voted down an income tax hike 2-33.
So they don't want higher taxes and they don't want to make cuts. What is their answer? I think the people deserve an answer.
Pete
The Senate just voted down an income tax hike 2-33.
So they don't want higher taxes and they don't want to make cuts. What is their answer? I think the people deserve an answer.
Pete
t-3 hours
Still nothing to report.
A giant game of chicken seems to be brewing, and nobody will win.
Pete
A giant game of chicken seems to be brewing, and nobody will win.
Pete
T-4 hours
With only four hours before a shut down, we still have 3 or 4 budgets to pass.
There is talk about one deal or another, but no real news.
Nothing like waiting for the last minute.
Pete
There is talk about one deal or another, but no real news.
Nothing like waiting for the last minute.
Pete
Why we can not fold and increase taxes.
There are some that want us to vote to increase taxes and not make these painful cuts. I just can't do that.
The biggest problem in Michigan is not our deficit. It's our 15.2% unemployment rate.
Lansing must remember that the main focus has to be what we can do to increase jobs in this state and raising taxes is never the answer to that.
If we take more money from the people of Michigan and give it to bureaucrats, we will only hurt the economy and ultimately cause more job losses.
Two years ago the legislature followed the Governor's lead and raised taxes. Since then the unemployment rate has doubled. We must never let that happen again.
Let me make something perfectly clear, I want to increase the revenues by having our economy grow. When more citizens of Michigan are working more dollars will flow to Lansing. This is the only way we should talk about increasing revenues.
I know many of these cuts are tough. They are real. But the alternative is worse.
In the past the elected officials in Lansing have made serious mistakes that have put us in this trouble. Let's not repeat these mistakes. Let's create an economy that is growing and employing more people. The government check will never be better than a pay check.
I don't want a government shut down. I also don't want an economic shut down.
Pete
The biggest problem in Michigan is not our deficit. It's our 15.2% unemployment rate.
Lansing must remember that the main focus has to be what we can do to increase jobs in this state and raising taxes is never the answer to that.
If we take more money from the people of Michigan and give it to bureaucrats, we will only hurt the economy and ultimately cause more job losses.
Two years ago the legislature followed the Governor's lead and raised taxes. Since then the unemployment rate has doubled. We must never let that happen again.
Let me make something perfectly clear, I want to increase the revenues by having our economy grow. When more citizens of Michigan are working more dollars will flow to Lansing. This is the only way we should talk about increasing revenues.
I know many of these cuts are tough. They are real. But the alternative is worse.
In the past the elected officials in Lansing have made serious mistakes that have put us in this trouble. Let's not repeat these mistakes. Let's create an economy that is growing and employing more people. The government check will never be better than a pay check.
I don't want a government shut down. I also don't want an economic shut down.
Pete
K-12 Budget stalled
The votes still are not there for the K-12 budget so the board was cleared.
What's next???? Your guess is as good as mine.
Pete
What's next???? Your guess is as good as mine.
Pete
Clear the Board
Voting has stopped on the General Gov budget and the board has been cleared. That means the vote never was counted.
The Dems are now in caucus.
Pete
The Dems are now in caucus.
Pete
General Government
Tight voting going on now. The General Govt Budget is having troubles.
This isn't an easy vote for any of us. There are cuts to revenue sharing that nobody likes, but many of us believe must come.
The history of revenue sharing makes me firmly believe it should exist. Unfortunately we just don't have the money to fund it at higher levels. If revenue sharing had never come into place, I am certain the revenues received by the local units of government would be down substantially from current revenue sharing levels.
Pete
This isn't an easy vote for any of us. There are cuts to revenue sharing that nobody likes, but many of us believe must come.
The history of revenue sharing makes me firmly believe it should exist. Unfortunately we just don't have the money to fund it at higher levels. If revenue sharing had never come into place, I am certain the revenues received by the local units of government would be down substantially from current revenue sharing levels.
Pete
What deal?
Out of nowhere we are forced to vote on a bill that will spend an extra $420 million with nowhere.
This bill violates the bipartisan, signed agreement between the Democrat Speaker of the House and the Republican Senate Majority leader to balance the budget without raising taxes. It proves that the Democrats never had any intention of living up to their end of the bipartisan agreement to reduce spending because they are already trying to backfill agreed upon cuts.
There are many legal problems with this legislation. It attempts to repeal a law that does not exist, it attempts to provide supplemental funding to a budget that does not exist, and it references a revenue source that does not exist.
Democrats who control the House are flagrantly abusing their power by trying to ram this legislation through without allowing lawmakers to debate the bill or even read it before being forced to vote.
This bill violates the bipartisan, signed agreement between the Democrat Speaker of the House and the Republican Senate Majority leader to balance the budget without raising taxes. It proves that the Democrats never had any intention of living up to their end of the bipartisan agreement to reduce spending because they are already trying to backfill agreed upon cuts.
There are many legal problems with this legislation. It attempts to repeal a law that does not exist, it attempts to provide supplemental funding to a budget that does not exist, and it references a revenue source that does not exist.
Democrats who control the House are flagrantly abusing their power by trying to ram this legislation through without allowing lawmakers to debate the bill or even read it before being forced to vote.
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