They make a mess, she cleans it up. Par for the course.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Monday asked leaders of the state's 15 public universities to consider lightening the burden of recently approved tuition increases in return for a funding increase of up to 5 percent this fall.
In a private meeting at her 14th floor office in Detroit's Cadillac Place, Granholm called on university presidents and board members -- many of whom listened on a conference call -- to restrain midyear tuition hikes and lower costs for the second semester.
Senate Republicans, of course, will have no part of cheaper tuition rates for our state's college kids. They went back to the old song and dance of "reforms", offering nothing on their part, and further stalling progress for our state.
The proposal hinges on the outcome of slow-moving negotiations in Lansing over the 2008 state budget. The key for Granholm would be to persuade Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, who says he's not ready to sign off on any deal she makes with university officials.
"Currently, there's no budget," said Bishop's spokesman, Matt Marsden, referring to the $1.8 billion deficit the Legislature is working to resolve for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
There is no budget because Senate Republicans refuse to work on one.
"We can't figure out what's available for universities until we know where we can make cuts and reforms necessary to produce the savings we need. The governor really should be talking about cuts and reforms, not promising somebody more money at this point."
So, where are these "reforms" that Senate Republicans keep talking about? Where is their plan?
And on top of that, are they going to try to tell the Governor what she should say now, too?
Senate Republicans have done nothing but mouth platitudes about the budget situation.
Offer up your "cuts and reforms", Republicans. Get it on the table.
Until you do, you are nothing but obstructionists.