Truly amazing. Bishop is holding the budget talks up because Granholm won't give them more time to finish the job- keep in mind this was after they took a good portion of the summer off, with promises that this would be done.
Here is Mike's latest demand in the hostage negotiations.
All sides agree that a temporary, continuation budget has to be approved because there is not enough time to complete a budget over the next few days. But Bishop has refused to name his three picks for the six-member conference committee on a possible income tax increase that is a key to getting a state budget resolution by the Oct. 1 deadline.
Bishop says Granholm needs to agree to a 30-day continuation budget before legislators sign off on a tax increase. Granholm says a budget resolution must be in place before she'll sign a continuation budget, which would maintain spending at current levels into the new budget year that begins Monday.
Back to you, Liz.
Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd countered: "They want another 30 days to do what they've failed to do in seven months? Lawmakers need to know delaying the decision has a cost to citizens.
"The governor has said she can only agree to a continuation budget if there is a solution."
And Mark Schauer chimes in.
"The Legislature deserves to have the weight of this situation on our shoulders until we come to a comprehensive solution. Why should we expect an extension when we haven't finished the job we were sent here to do? Everyone wants to avoid a shutdown and that can be possible if we stay focused on finding a bipartisan agreement."
This afternoon, Mike Bishop is the person holding up that agreement from being found.
By the way, we can't do an extention without the revenue. What Mike fails to mention is that, as it stands now, we are running a deficit.
Granholm fears that agreement on a continuation budget without an overall resolution will only delay the tough decisions for a month. Also, the state doesn't have the tax revenue to support spending at this year's levels, she says.
Going to pass that increase for an extension, Mike? No? Didn't think so.
Had a feeling it might come to something like this.
By the way, Terri Lynn Land urges you to get your business with the SOS taken care of before Monday. She may have a point.