[The_Egg]

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Thursday night they were still working on a deal to avoid a partial government shutdown next week, but the specter of a shutdown still hovered over the talks.

Granholm said in a five-minute televised address that played on TV and radio stations around the state Thursday evening that she was taking the first steps toward shutting the government down, but remained hopeful an agreement could yet be reached Thursday night.

"Productive negotiations are now under way in my office that could head off this government shutdown while there's still time. We have made significant progress in the last 48 hours. We've narrowed our differences," she said from her ceremonial office in the state Capitol.

She warned, however, that she would not back extending the current budget into the fiscal year that starts Monday and said lawmakers needed to pass a mix of cuts, tax increases and government reforms in the next few hours.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, the lead Republican in budget negotiations, said during his televised address from a Capitol hallway that Granholm didn't need to bring the state to the brink of a shutdown.

"This is a defining moment in our state's history," he said, urging the governor to do more than just continue government policies of the past. "It is your responsibility to take the right action. We demand it," he told her.

Bishop, who said progress had been made, urged all sides to get back to negotiating Thursday night, adding, "It will be a lot easier if we take the threat of a government shutdown off the table."

Although Senate Republicans have passed a bill calling for a 30-day extension, Bishop said he could live with something shorter if a shutdown was avoided.

He told reporters he asked the governor for at least two more weeks.

Granholm said Thursday night that she wouldn't support a temporary extension unless a budget deal includes higher taxes to support public safety, education and health care, a stance most Democratic lawmakers back. Granholm says a budget extension would cost the state $125 million each month, forcing the state deeper into debt.

Bishop said a shutdown, though, would cost the state's funding pot for K-12 schools nearly $2 million a day in lost lottery revenue and $300,000 a day in lost revenue from Detroit casinos. The city of Detroit would lose $435,000 a day if the casinos were closed, he said.

Some negotiators said they had to break the stalemate Thursday so the state didn't miss deadlines for issuing some checks needed to continue work next week. Others say they might have until Sunday to craft a temporary deal and avoid a partial shutdown. A continuation budget hasn't been adopted in Michigan since 1980, so there's no clear roadmap on how to do it.

No budget legislation has been passed for the upcoming year and officials have not resolved how to fill a projected $1.75 billion shortfall.

Granholm said Detroit casinos, lottery sales, state parks, Secretary of State offices and liquor distribution could cease operations Monday if there's a shutdown.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board ruled Thursday it would have to suspend operations at the three Detroit casinos if a shutdown occurs. The state Civil Service Commission could act Friday morning on a change in layoff rules affecting the state's more than 53,000 employees that would allow workers to be laid off without the usual 30-day notice.

Granholm said in her address that essential services would continue.

"Our prisons will keep felons behind bars. We'll maintain services for our most vulnerable citizens," she said.

Talks have focused on possibly raising income tax rate, now at 3.9 percent. Granholm and most Democrats support raising it to 4.6 percent, but Republicans have said they want to cut the size of government before they consider any tax increase. Tax increase proposals have failed to pass both the Republican-controlled Senate and Democrat-controlled House.

Other tax options include a sales tax on services and several product-specific taxes. Spending cuts and government restructuring proposals also are part of negotiations, as are moves to end some tax exemptions that benefit specific businesses.

Social service groups are concerned about how a shutdown might affect a wide range of programs including child support, welfare, adoption, child care and protective services and foster care.

"A government shutdown raises grave concerns about the widespread impact on Michigan citizens who need state-administered programs to keep their families fed, housed, healthy and their children in school," the Lansing-based Michigan League for Human Services said in a statement.

Rep. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, said he was concerned a shutdown could leave drawbridges over Michigan waterways unmanned with the drawbridges up. He said that raises concerns that ambulances and other emergency vehicles won't be able to cross.

"In the event of a shutdown, a contingency plan to ensure access to our many state-operated bridges must be in place," Horn wrote in a letter to state transportation and police directors.

A group of local budget experts issued a memo Thursday warning that the state could see its bond rating fall even further and the state's ability to legally operate be crippled if a shutdown occurs.

"What's the legal basis for operating without a budget? This is something that has got to be discussed so there is not chaos on October 1," said East Lansing economist Patrick Anderson, a member of the group. "This is one citizen not willing to go to bed Sunday night not knowing who will get paid to run the prisons on Monday."

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This means no booze or lotto tickets.















oh yeah and cops, road crews, firefighters, list goes on


this will not last long.

[elroypornlab]

Nah they'll bring in the National guard and start pistol whipping old ladies in the street

[AnnonUSA]

It is not possible to stop police and firefighters from working because of this.

They best be careful too, cause people might figure out that things run better with government shut down.

[The_Egg]

Originally Posted by AnnonUSA

It is not possible to stop police and firefighters from working because of this.

They best be careful too, cause people might figure out that things run better with government shut down.

It will have major cut backs though.


As for lottery Thats pretty much the only money our schools get.
Will be something to watch in the next couple days.


If im not wrong I thought NJ had a gov shutdown before? how did that work out?

[TheBagman]

Originally Posted by The_Egg

As for lottery Thats pretty much the only money our schools get.
Will be something to watch in the next couple days.

Maybe more private schools would pop up. This would be a good thing if they realized they shouldn't always rely on the government anyhow.

[The_Egg]

I agree with you 100% I have a hard time thinking about my kid going through the schools I went through. Public Schools are crap because they cannot teach what is true.


after all christopher columbus was a nice happy man who sailed here so we could later have a thanksgiving in the next chapter right?

[TacoSusio]

:lmao:

[TacoSusio]

why aren't i lmao?!

[AnnonUSA]

Originally Posted by The_Egg

If im not wrong I thought NJ had a gov shutdown before? how did that work out?

Didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, until it was over and we got shafted in the wallet again. John Q Public never wins .....

[TheBagman]

Originally Posted by The_Egg

I agree with you 100% I have a hard time thinking about my kid going through the schools I went through. Public Schools are crap because they cannot teach what is true.


after all christopher columbus was a nice happy man who sailed here so we could later have a thanksgiving in the next chapter right?

Exactly. And Abraham Lincoln started the Civil War to wipe out slavery.

[Slutter McGee]

The damn bitch wants to raise taxes. Fuck her.

Sincerely,

Slutter McGee

[TheBagman]

Yeah, I like how they are over budget and they want to raise taxes first thing.
How about cut some pork?

[Silent Steve]

and only mean old white people owned slaves..