The budget for our next fiscal year, which begins on October 1st, still has not been completed. There is talk of a state government shut down because the House, Senate and the Governor cannot agree on necessary cuts to balance the budget.
The Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader have continued to meet. The Governor has not participated in the past week. The other two leaders have evidently been meeting regularly.
The Govenror announced that this week she will be in Japan trying to get jobs to relocate from Japan to Michigan.
Yet the budet is not done. No agreement on new revenue sources, taxes, fees, etc.. No agreement yet on budget cuts to balance the new budget.
Good idea for the Governor to go to Japan this week when the fiscal year expires in two weeks? When we have no budget agreement? Should she not stay at the table with the Speaker and the Majority Leader and continue the negotiations and prevent a shut down?
Or is it a better policy to go to Japan and attract new jobs for unemployed Michiganders? Or maybe delay the Japan trip until October after the budget is resolved?
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ok, first off I don't think that a state government shut down should even be considered just because they cannot reach an agreement... TOUGH LUCK! They need to keep trying, not just give up and throw in the towel on Michigan! Now, I know I may get A LOT of heat for saying this but the Governor is a friend of mine, I have met with her several times and I support most of her choices, I have listen to her reasoning for things straight from her mouth, and it is a lot easier to see where she is coming from when you are lucky enough to hear her thoughts and plans when face to face. With that said, I think going to Japan to try to bring jobs to Michigan is a GREAT idea, I just don't think now is the right time to do it. She is needed here in Michigan to help figure out our budget problems!
ReplyDeleteI have spoken to many different state legislators on this exact topic of the government shutdown and they believe that it will happen UNLESS the Governor comes in and mediates the talks. She may believe that brining in 20 jobs from Japan will be a great thing for this state in the future, but right now the budget should be her main focus. If the legislature is unable to come to agreement before the shutdown I do believe that Gov. Granholm will then be considered a lame duck governor if she isn't already.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading this I became disgruntled. I'm pretty sure that she needs to get her priorities in check. It is important for the state of Michigan to gain jobs back from Japan; however, there are more pressing issues such as our State's budget. Hopefully she will come to her senses and realize that she needs to fulfill her role as governor to govern her people, nobody said that we'd always get along. Shutting down the government due to the fact that she won't aide in mediating or because she is too busy in Japan, just shows that she needs to get her act together.
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ReplyDeleteI think that getting jobs back in Michigan is important, but there is a time and a place for everything. It seems to me that she needs to understand her role as governor and settling for a government shut down seems like an immature response. A government shut down? I am not even sure I know what that means exactly, but it sure doesn't sound good. I do know that the people we elected to run our government should not give up so easily and need to find a way to make things work.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Michigan does need to change their approach and adopt one house instead of a two. It seems that it would be a more methodical apporoach eliminating this kind of gridlock. Michigan does not need their government to be immobile especially with the state of the economy. Something needs to change whether it be the entire system or the people occupying the positions.
ReplyDeleteI disagree on the notion of adopting a unicameral legislature based on the grounds of eliminating gridlock. Subtle gridlock is what leads a group to a better consensus and decision in most cases. However, I do agree that there needs to be an overhaul of how the system works in Lansing, but not how it is situated. Our leaders in Lansing must understand that for the good of the state they must put aside their petty personal problems and come together for the common good.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the state budget is more important currently then going to Japan for the Governor. If she doesnt get a budget planned out many people will continue to lose jobs. This would not help the situation in Michigan at all. I think she should have definately reschedualed her trip to Japan. This was completely irresponsible of her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with mitch about the unicameral system being too much of a leap. I highly doubt that our system here in Michigan at its core is necessarily to blame for the condition Michigan is currently in. The real reasons lie in the decisions the were made, and were not made. It is the elected officals that have to be looked at, not the actual system. The more checks and balances you have, the better off you will be, that is if people are actually implementing the system the way it was meant to. Michigan just needs to sit back and look at all the different choices that led us to this point. Take a long hard look in the mirror, because until they do that, nothing will really be accomplished
ReplyDeleteWhile a trip to Japan is quite appealing, the governer has domestic responsibilites which should usually, if not always, trump foreign responsibilities. Also while going to Japan MAY some how vaugely render jobs for Michigan, ignoring the budget WILL shut down the government. If she can sucessfully do both, congratulations, perhaps this is why you are the governor. But I do think she has her priorities backwards and needs to work on the budget before she jets off.
ReplyDeleteI also strongly disagree with the idea to become a unicameral. Chelsey brings up many important points about how the more checks and balances you have the better, and I agree. Jumping into a unicameral situation is simply not the answer to our current problem. Because gridlock in the end brings about what went wrong and how in the future we may fix it.
ReplyDeleteGoing to Japan before settling the budget is a very poor decision. Why? Because economic prosperity is in large part based around confidence, not just in the individual consumer but also in the government as a whole. By leaving now without a balanced budget plan, the governor is underming the citizens of Michigans confidence in their governments ability to maintain social programs and the faith of its many public employees who are reliant on a healthy state to continue to provide them with an income in exchange for their labors. This undermining will, in my opinion, do far more damage to the economy of Michigan then can be made up for with potential new jobs from Japan.
ReplyDeleteAgain Michigan finds themselves digging a grave. Every year we know that the budget must be completed by a set date, you would think that a state with as many problems as us would get it done ASAP to avoid a state shut down. This is just a lack of common sense. Going to Japan to try and recruit new jobs is a good idea. Going when the state is on the verge of shutting down, not such a good idea. Poor decision making on our governors part. If you really cared about Michigan you would get your priorities straight. If you want to see Michigan struggle just let the state shut down for a few days. Maybe this will be an eye opener for our next Governor.
ReplyDeleteSometimes what you need is a big bucket of frigid water to wake up. The state government being forced to close down just might be that big bucket of frigid water the legislatures, the governor, the everyday citizens of Michigan would need to truly wake up to the crisis we are in. In the morning after an all-nighter I might know that I need to get up now or I’ll be late, but if I’m particularly tired knowing what I need to do and doing what I need to do are two separate things. A quick soak of frigid water would be all I needed to get up out of my comfortable bed and get to business. In regard to the questions posed, of course it would be better policy to get the budget worked out and then go to Japan to get some jobs for unemployed Michiganders than go on vacation for a week—I know that she is doing more than just going on vacation, but you get the point.
ReplyDeleteDo I think it's a good idea for the governor to go to Japan? No, she should sit herself down at that table and work out a budget plan before Oct. 1st. My question is what is her "real" reason for going to Japan? Is it to delay budget plan...to avoid the crisis that Michigan is in...or is it to actually find jobs for Michiganders? My answer, I think she's going to Japan to try and make herself look good, like she's really "trying" to help out Michigan when she's probably just taking a vacation because she doesn't feel like working on a stupid fricken budget for the state she's governor of. Don't get me wrong, if she's actually doing what she says she doing...which I've yet to believe anything she says...then that's great. I'm all for bringing jobs to Michigan and trying to help out the unemployed. But it couldn't wait a couple weeks first in order to balance the budget? To me it seems like she just doesn't care about Michigan or the citizens of this state with her actions. As governor she should be doing what she can to help the budget plan. Another good question...is she paying for the Japan trip out of her pocket, or with tax payer money? Just some opinions on my part, but it does make a person think.
ReplyDeleteThe governor should probably stay in the states and work the budget deal out and do everything they can to prevent a shut down. She is going to Japan to attract jobs...how many jobs is she going to attract? 20 or 1,000? It is an inconvenient trip with terrible timing. As important as jobs are with such a high level of unemployment in Michigan, the budget for the year is probably more important, especially since the issue won't get resolved without the governor around to talk about it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that our governor should be sitting down with the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House and getting our budget for next year taken care of before taking a trip out to Japan. There's nothing wrong with trying to create jobs for the state, but why do this when it's crunch time for our budget? It definitely seems a lot better timing to delay the trip instead of having a state shut down. If the budget is in, then there won't be a chance that more jobs will be lost as fast like there would be with a state shut down.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought as I was reading all of this, how exactly is the Governor going to procure jobs by going to Japan? Perhaps this is irrelevant but it seems strange now that I think of it. It might be more appropriate to travel to China, India, Indonesia, etc. to build bridges to potentially bring back jobs, considering this is where many of our blue collar jobs have shifted to. Or perhaps she could convince Toyota to buy up a few brown fields in Detroit and set up shop in the midwest?
ReplyDeleteI find the ideas of making a Unicameral legislature for Michigan that Mitch and Chelsey brought up interesting. One could argue that a bicameral legislature at the state level is excessive, repetitive, and, well, expensive. Perhaps state issues could be taken care of in one house of government instead of two?
I agree that perhaps a change to a unicameral legislature may provide the state which some much needed cuts in cost and excessive procedures. All the implications of such a switch may be detrimental at first but could be beneficial in the long run. Even if such a notion isn't possible, just the suggestion may "light a fire" under government officials and cause them to get the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteI find myself agreeing with anbernar that the serious suggestion may "light a [much needed] fire" under government officials. You won't find me supporting the idea of a unicameral legislature for MI, but you won't find me fighting it either. I would be very wary of any major changes, let it be the conservative in me. Just because it would potentially solve a current problem (to have a unicameral legislature), doesn't mean it neccessarily will be a good thing. I think its a good idea to seriously contemplate it, but let's not totally change the way our legislature is set up because of the budget issue. Let's research how it works in Nebraska and logistically brainstorm if it could work here too.
ReplyDeleteEveryone here agrees that Governor Granholm need to get back to the States and get this issue situated. She obviously does not care about Michigan. She cannot run again in 2010 and she will still be getting paid with or without a state shutdown. When the state shuts down at midnight October 1st, she will still have a job.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think Lt. Gov. John Cherry would sit at the table and get this issue situated. You want CHANGE how about a new Governor. I am sure that someone will fully disagree with me on this one. Chapter 4 in state and local gov. just talked about RECALLS. Maybe it is time. The people of Michigan decide.
I agree with Mitch and don't feel like a unicameral system is what our state needs, and Chelsey hit it right on the head when she said that the more checks and balances we have in our gov't, the better off we will be. Our government officials are the ones that need to get it right, not the actual way that our government is--maybe in the future, but that won't fix this problem if we jump into it right away.
ReplyDeleteGranholm is galvanting off using our money on a good will trip to Japan and we are facing major budget problems. Shes the head executive of our state not a special envoy to Japan. While I can see the merits of trying to attract jobs to our state couldn't a representative of the state do that job, maybe we should just pay for "Pure Michigan" commercials to be aired in Japan. We do need to reach out and try and attract jobs to Michigan but there is also a time and a place for it.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of switching to a unicameral legislature that is currently being discussed here is a bad idea in my opinion. I agree with Chelsey in the fact that our system is not to blame for these problems, two houses provide the necessary checks and balances to make sure we produce quality legislation and a quality budget. While i don't think that states with unicameral legislative bodies are in the wrong, I think having two bodies provides adequate representation for our diverse state. There are big differences between inner city Detroit and Little Lake Michigan.
ReplyDeleteI just sat in on the Gwinn Schoolg District board meetin this evening. The district is in poor shape due to changing demographics and declining enrollment. However, state budget cuts are likely to hamper the school further; they are expecting, with the new fiscal budget, to lose huge amounts of state aid.
ReplyDeleteThe fiscal budget is very important. However, with Granholms little time as governor, perhaps she wants to use it to improve the job market. The fiscal budget will not improve until the jobs come back to Michigan. And I believe this trip underscores the dier situation that the state of Michigan faces.
Unemployment rates are surging. K-12 schools are facing the heat, and higher education is also suffering due to the cut backs (LSSU). Without the jobs coming home; we face even worse pressure in 2010 and 2011.
I know this statement is going to strike a lot of controversy, but I personally wouldn't mind seeing our government shut down for a little while. As Thomas Jefferson said "every generation needs a revolution!" I assume most of us have never experienced what it feels like to live without the structure of law and enforcement that government has built to guide our lives. It is hard to know what you want when you have only ever experienced one thing. Well I say let the government shut itself down!! Then, we can see what things we enjoy without the government in our lives and what things we truly miss and find necessary for security and prosperity. Letting the government shutdown would also provide our legislators with some time to reflect on the importance of a strong budget and what consequences might derive from a failure to articulate and enforce one. Perhaps a little time on the bench might rekindle their drive to get back in the game and represent our needs to the best of their abilities.
ReplyDeleteThe governor should take care of home first, that's the most important then worry about attracting people to Michigan for jobs. Granholm can go to Japan as you stated a few weeks later, It's not something that has a deadline like the end of the fiscal year. It's kinda like Finishing a paper for a class thats due in 2 weeks rather then starting the one due in 2 days, It just doesn't make sense and I believe this is a poor decision by the governor. Once Again.
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