MIRS:
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"They won't vote on reforms. They won't vote on revenues. They won't vote on cuts -- but they'll do everything else."
- Lynn OWEN, the Governor's budget legislative liaison, expressing his frustration over the House and Senate failing to move on a meaningful budget resolution.
Gov's Early Retirement Plan Goes Into Overtime
"Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM's plan to save the state, local governments and school districts $450 million through a carrot-and-stick early retirement plan will not pass the Legislature in time to meet the original April 15-May 15 window the Governor wanted to give veteran employees to consider an early departure."
Revenue Sharing Cut Restored In House Budget
"The House Democratic caucus blinked for the first time today on the prospects of an all-cuts Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget when it restored a previously passed 3.1 percent cut to state revenue sharing to cities, villages and counties by linking the funding to 10 various "loophole closing" bills."
Gongwer:
RASCO FIASCO: SCOPE OF TAX BREAK SCAM GROWS
When Richard Short applied for a tax break to convince Michigan officials to give him an incentive to locate Renewable and Sustainable Companies LLC, his new company that promised to build technology in Flint that would integrate communication with essential utilities in the developing world, he gave state officials reason to hustle.
REVENUE SHARING SPARED AS HOUSE PANEL APPROVES 4 BUDGETS
A plan to cut revenue sharing was thwarted Thursday and communities across the state would actually see a 1 percent increase in payments if the Legislature signs off on closing some tax loopholes under one of four budgets the House Appropriations Committee approved.
COX SLAMS HOEKSTRA OVER MISSING PROCEDURAL VOTE
Attorney General Mike Cox's gubernatorial campaign attacked U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra for being in the state campaigning for governor instead of in Washington, D.C., to cast a vote on the federal health care bill.
HOUSE PANEL EXPLORES SCHOOL FUND BALANCE CAPS
School districts could only keep 15 percent of their general revenues in the bank under legislation being considered by the House Education Committee, but the panel was urged to bring that number even lower in initial testimony Thursday.
TRANSPARENCY HURT D.H.S., HOUSE PANEL TOLD
The effort by Department of Human Services officials to be truthful about data regarding the foster care system, even if that meant revising figures, may have hurt the state's image with court monitors that just released a review of Michigan's progress, lawmakers were told Thursday.