Man, I'm bored with these guys.
No new tricks in the bag, no solutions to Michigan's problems, taking the easy way out once again with rush job legislation that will go nowhere, missing important meetings, and hitting on their favorite punching bags and calling them "issues" - I give you the Michigan Republican Party and its dancing puppets in the Legislature.
First, Senate Republicans cut business taxes. Again. Did they say what they would do to make up the revenue? No. Did they say what they would cut instead? No. Leave the heavy lifting for other people. They just do the convenient, lazy thing - cut taxes and spend money.
But Sen. Mike Prusi, D-Ishpeming, accused majority Republicans of rushing the bill before a group of senators has hearings around the state to determine what changes, if any, should be made to business taxes.
"I'm very hesitant to do a $250 million bite out of tax revenues to help people making a quarter of a million dollars," he said.
Gongwer tells us the rest of the story - while the Republicans were busy cutting revenue but not offering any solutions to the consequences of that act, they also were busy denying unemployed workers an extension on benefits.
Sen. Michael Prusi (D-Ishpeming) characterized advocates of the tax breaks as "trying to have it both ways" by voting for tax cuts at the same time most have backed spending bills based on revenue estimates of an intact MBT. He was unsuccessful with a proposed amendment to tie the bill to another bill extending unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.
"The least we can do with a state that is leading the nation in unemployment is provided extended benefits to workers who are struggling to find jobs," he said.
Republicans opposed the amendment, which was defeated on a 19-19 vote, because of its $600 million cost to businesses.
Protect business? Of course. Protect workers? Of course not. So, they send this on to the House, where it probably will die without an answer to revenue problem. You would think that if Republicans were really serious about tax cuts to business, they would find a way to pay for it, wouldn't they? Wouldn't they?
Guess they aren't serious about "business tax relief" after all.
Senate Republicans also skipped out on a budget meeting with the House - another reoccurring problem with this bunch; they tend to split when there is work to do.
Democratic members of the Joint Capital Outlay Committee were not pleased late Tuesday afternoon when none of the six Senate Republican members showed up for a hearing on a budget that would give airports in Michigan access to federal dollars, as well as provide planning authorizations for public university and community college projects.
Chair Rep. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit) told the audience, "This is one of the sad days of this Legislature," and that he didn't understand "why we can't get this done.
McManus said it was "too late in the day" and they had other commitments. Seems we have heard that excuse before, too, but I don't feel like looking it up.
Annnnnnd finally we turn to the House, which passed the budget for DHS, but not before Republicans tried to take a swipe at... can you guess?... illegal immigrants and welfare recipients.
House Democrats procedurally rejected Republican amendments that would put a four-year limit on cash assistance, ban public assistance to illegal aliens and require the department to report its expenditures in a more specific and real-time basis.
Today will be the big abortion battle... and I'm told the carnival attraction people are in town as well, set up on the Capitol lawn with their food booths. Sounds like fun.
Let's add up recent events. House Democrats pass sweeping energy legislation. Governor wrangles up over 9000 new jobs. Major accomplishments that move Michigan forward.
Republicans just spin their wheels in the mud as they do the same thing over and over and over...