LANSING – House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) said today that although Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed the final state budgets to avoid a government shutdown, he and the Governor agreed that the overall budget takes Michigan in the wrong direction and is the result of the Senate's refusal to fund priorities such as education that will turn our state around.
"The budget is about priorities and choices, and the Senate has chosen to put tax breaks for oil companies and loopholes for the tobacco industry ahead of education for our kids, police and fire protection, and health care for our families," Dillon said. "This Senate-led 'all-cuts' budget will result in bankrupt communities, schools in receivership and broken promises for students seeking to go to college so they can join the middle class. While this budget must be signed in order to avoid another government shutdown, the fight is far from over."
The Governor and Dillon had sought to work in a bipartisan fashion with the Senate. Dillon had received a commitment from Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) to work in a bipartisan manner and show a good-faith effort to seek a middle ground through compromise, but Bishop broke his word.
House Democrats have more than met the Senate halfway in working to resolve the state's budget crisis. House Dems have reduced state spending by more than $2 billion and agreed to use the Senate plan as a starting point for negotiations. The Senate, however, turned their backs on compromise, failing to show the effort that Michigan residents expect from their leaders.
"The gutting of our kids' education and the layoffs of teachers that are about to happen is the direct result of Senator Bishop's refusal to compromise and work in a bipartisan fashion," Dillon said. "The Senate's politics of 'no' and obstruction won't create a single job or help our kids succeed in the 21st century economy. People are hurting and need help more than ever. In the days and weeks ahead, we're going to bring that point home to the state Senate."