John Cherry doesn't seem to get a lot of press. When he does, you tend to sit up and take notice. The guy has been around Michigan politics a long, long time, and I tend to believe him when he says something. He doesn't seem like the type that is prone to a lot of hyperbole- he's down to earth, trustworthy. That is the impression I got watching him speak throughout the campaign last year, and from what I have read about him in the meantime.
This next bit of information didn't make the MSM- but I believe it is an important warning about what may happen with the '08 budget talks. From both MIRS and Gongwer (sub only) we learn that Cherry believes that the lawmakers might try to push this budget agreement into October, creating a crisis as an excuse to explain away their votes.
"I think there's a school of thought out there that says it's easier to justify a vote on a tax hike if it occurs in the midst of a crisis" and waiting until the end of September would fit that definition as stories of shutting down the government came into play.
Cherry confessed that no Republican has shared this with him, but he's been around long enough to know that it could happen.
It's not like the Republicans would jump up to confess to this strategy.
Two Senate Republicans, Sen. Bill Hardiman (R-Kentwood) and Sen. Tom George (R-Kalamazoo), said there had been no discussion of any sort on delaying the budget.And another Senate GOP official said the entire thought presumes that Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) would deliberately delay action in order to force a vote on a tax increase.
No, of course not. Not Mike. Perish the thought.
Right now the lawmakers are playing the game of "you go first". Bishop is waiting on the House to pass a tax increase. June 15th, MIRS-
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) has been repeatedly reminding anyone and everyone that the Democratic-controlled House hasn't been able to pass a tax hike.
And Dillon is waiting for the Senate to pass "reforms".
"He can start to move real structural reform whenever he wants. I just haven't seen it. Where is the beef?" Dillon said. "We in the House have already worked to make it easier for locals to consolidate services, we've called for the elimination of lifetime health care for elected officials, we've called for a 5 percent pay cut for state employees and I am frustrated that the Senate has not acted. The House is doing what it said it would do and now it's up to the Senate."
Granholm just wants someone to do something. Please. Soon. Gongwer, July 10th-
Increasing taxes is hard, she said, but if the Legislature is unwilling to pass tax increases then it has to pass budgets to reflect the cuts needed to keep the budget balanced."Nobody wants to do any of these hard things, I understand that," Ms. Granholm said. "But if you're not going to raise the revenue to fund the services we all expect then pass budgets that will reflect the cuts that will be necessary if we don't have the revenue. One way or the other."
On To the Point this morning, Granholm repeatedly expressed that we need to "put this behind us". In response to a question on recalls, the governor had this to say-
"We were not sent to Lansing to cast easy votes. We were sent there to fix the problems. So, buck up, get some spine, do what you know has to be done on both cuts, reforms and revenues, do it so we can put this behind us. Give certainty to the state. Allow us to market Michigan all across the country. Wall Street's watching."
Oddly enough, Dillon said about the same thing awhile ago.
"What we did to get out of '07 may be dangerous if we don't get '08 done quickly, because Wall Street is not going to look positively at throwing tobacco tax dollars to fix a deficit-spending problem," Dillon said.
That was June 24th. You know, before they decided to take that two week vacation. The game of "chicken" seems to continue at this point- but maybe their vacation will clear their heads. Doubtful, given their track record.
It's easy to see how John Cherry would come to the conclusion that the leaves in the UP will be starting to turn before this gets resolved. Even the governor concedes it make take until then.
"My big fear Rick, is that the strategy now, given how much delay has gone (on), is to wait until October, and to force some sort of government shutdown, like we saw in Pennsylvania, before agreeing to put this behind us. I just think delay... hurts... Michigan. We need to get this done, over with, and beyond us, so that there's certainty in universities and schools, and in the state. I think, you know, it sends a terrible message about Michigan, if we can't reach bipartisan, comprehensive solutions."
Rick Albin goes on to bring up the point that it's better to do the tough votes now and get it "as far away from an election as you can". True. The longer this goes on... the worse they ALL look in the eyes of the public.
This coming week might tell the tale of whether this will be done sooner rather than later. Or vice versa. Stay tuned...