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Budget Update: Avoiding a Prolonged Shutdown
- - October 1st, 2009
Budget Update as of Thursday, Oct. 1, at 5:30 p.m. Here's what's going on at this hour: Continuation budget ends shutdown Yesterday morning, the House passed a continuation budget that keeps the state government operating past the midnight deadline to balance the budget. Because the Senate did not pass this budget until nearly 2 a.m. today, state government was forced to shut down for almost two hours. Though I'm disappointed that we had to pass... more
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Budget Update as of Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
- - September 30th, 2009
I'm writing to you from the House Floor with a quick update as we face midnight deadline to balance the budget. I am doing everything I can to help the Legislature meet that deadline; this morning the House passed an interim budget as a backup plan to keep the government operating after midnight, just in case. The House worked late last night to pass more budgets, and we have now passed 9 of the 15... more
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Budget Update as of Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
- - September 28th, 2009
We're now two days away from the deadline to balance the state budget. One area of vital importance that is facing deep cuts is local police and fire protection. Local governments rely on money from the state to pay for police and fire protection and other essential services. This revenue sharing is key to keeping our families and neighborhoods safe, yet funding for it has shrunk by more than $500 million since 2001. Michigan's communities... more
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Budget Update: Voting to Protect Teachers and Students
- - September 24th, 2009
Budget Update as of Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. The House today continues to vote on the 15 departmental budgets that make up the overall state budget. One of these budgets, for School Aid, provides funding for K-12 education throughout the state. I am gravely concerned over the potential cuts to education that are being proposed. Although Michigan faces a $2.8 billion deficit and many tough choices lie ahead before the Sept. 30... more
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Budget Update as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009 at 5:15 p.m.
- - September 23rd, 2009
With only a week to go before the deadline to balance the state budget, my fellow lawmakers and I are focused on moving forward as quickly as we can in order to avoid a government shutdown. The situation is evolving, but I'll update you on what's going on as of now: Six of the 15 bipartisan House-Senate conference committees have reported their compromise budgets to the full Legislature for a vote. They are: Agriculture... more
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Budget Update as of Monday, 9/21/09 at 4:30 p.m
- - September 21st, 2009
With just 9 days left to balance the state budget, there is a lot going on at the Capitol. The bipartisan conference committees appointed last week continue to meet. They have the job of trying to agree on differing House and Senate versions of 15 departmental budget bills that make up the state's overall budget. Many are expected to finish by tomorrow, when we will start to see some final proposals. The committees were ordered... more
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Budget Update as of 4:40 p.m. on Sept. 17
- - September 17th, 2009
With just 13 days to go until our Sept. 30 deadline to balance the state budget, I am writing to give you an update of what is happening at our State Capitol. With so much at stake, I want to make sure that you are kept up to date on negotiations. As you know, the economic situation in Michigan this year is very difficult and has dramatically decreased the amount of revenue the state has... more
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Michigan Home Heating Credit Deadline is Sept. 30
- - September 2nd, 2009
In Michigan's tough winters, heating your home can be a matter of life and death. Many families are struggling to make ends meet right now, and are finding it difficult to make their utility payments. That's why Michigan offers the Home Heating Credit to help struggling families pay their utility bills. However, the deadline to apply for this program is Sept. 30. Income limits do apply. You can get more information about the program and... more