What may cause the Michigan state government to shutdown?
LANSING – After missing the midnight deadline and causing a brief, technical shutdown of state government, lawmakers early this morning approved most of a new state budget and a temporary budget that got the state gears moving again. The pile of budget bills goes to Gov. Jennifer Granholm for her signature. Granholm meanwhile signed an interim, 30-day budget will fund state government and public schools. The agreements came after disputes over final deals flared, and the midnight deadline passed without a budget in place. The shutdown lasted under two hours. The agreements would erase a looming $2.8-billion deficit with no tax increases and substantial cuts in spending, from schools to Medicaid and mental health programs, aid to cities, environmental programs and government operations – including the Legislature. “This temporary measure will maintain critical services while we continue to strive for a budget based on the priorities that matter to Michigan families,” Granholm said in a
Michigan’s state government stumbled toward a partial shutdown Thursday as one of the nation’s most economically battered states remained without a budget. State lawmakers failed Wednesday to agree on deep spending cuts proposed to balance the budget by a midnight deadline. They also failed to finalize a temporary budget that could have averted Michigan’s second shutdown since 2007. Secretary of State offices could close and state parks could begin asking visitors to leave if the impasse isn’t resolved before state workers are to report for work Thursday. Essential services such as state police and prisons will continue running. Lawmakers could not agree to steep cuts in tax payments to local governments and shallower cuts to K-12 education. Sources: http://www.google.
