Lansing is under assault from chickens ... all the budgetary ones coming home to roost at the State Capitol. Lawmakers now are looking at a deficit of up to $1.5 billion in a budget year half over.
Lansing, a center of state government employment, is going to take a big hit in whatever budget plan eventually escapes the Capitol. How else should you get so much money out of a $9 billion general fund?
And it could be worse. Michigan will be using at least $700 million in federal stimulus aid to close budget holes this year. Without that, the budgetary blood would be running knee deep.
Talk to your legislators. Become informed about the budget. I believe you will find that there isn’t much in the way of easy cuts as you may think. But don’t take my word for it. Study a bit on the details of health spending, aid to needy families, prisons and higher education. Those are the major accounts. Google House Fiscal Agency or Senate Fiscal Agency or Citizens Research Council. They have lots to offer.
These are truly staggering budget numbers ... and ones that have been years in the making. The Legislature temporized on tough calls and voters agreed to it. Now, it’s time to pay up.
Think you have a diamond in the rough budget idea? Send it my way. I’ll post the viable ones on the blog.
