LSJ to the Republicans: "Knock it off and get back to work"

Saul and the Michigan Republican Party can cry victim all they want, claiming that Democrats forced this budget deal upon them, but the truth is- the Republicans spent the summer on vacation, the Republicans put us over the top on a tax vote, and the Republicans are now wasting our time crying about it.

This is all wasted energy. Legislative Republicans, in particular, should focus all their energy on enacting a balanced 2008 budget and propelling the work of government reform.

Although the LSJ doesn't go as far as pointing out that the Republicans will not move on the plan to repeal those service taxes that Saul is blaming the Democrats for, they do point out that this was a bipartisan budget plan that was agreed to by majorities in both chambers and the Governor, and that is the way it goes, and, for the love of Cassis, it's time to move on and get back to work.

It's not the best plan in the world, but it's one that finally drew support from majorities in the House and Senate and the backing of Gov. Jennifer Granholm. That's how the political process works - find a deal that draws majority support or better.

Now you have Republicans running around trying to deconstruct the deal.

In arguing for the sales tax repeal, Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, told the Gongwer News Service last week: "The Democrats in the House and the governor foisted this disastrous tax situation on us."

Cassis and Republicans apparently have forgotten their bid to resolve Michigan's 2008 budget deficit without tax increases failed to garner majorities in both legislative chambers. As for any talk of being forced to accept tax deals at the last moment to avoid a government shutdown, where were those GOP lawmakers in, say, July? Oh, that's right - on vacation.

No one was going for the cuts. No one. Taxes were going to be raised, period, end of story. Even the Republican controlled Senate wouldn't vote Saul's way.

And never forget, we couldn't have done this without the help of Senate Republicans. No vote, no budget. Be sure and thank Mike Bishop for that, Saul. He could have blocked this at any time, as you know, but seem to want to conveniently forget when it serves your purpose.

Instead of all this gnashing of teeth, why don't you guys just finish the job.

Make the spending decisions. Get a 2008 budget finalized. Get attention turned to work on the 2009 budget. That's the Legislature's duty right now.

Good to see the media call them out on this.