The best example of working bipartisanship in Lansing this week came from retired governors Bill Milliken and Jim Blanchard who repeated their eight-month-old plea for cuts, reforms, and new taxes. But those with the actual power to stop the “Countdown to Chaos” couldn’t solve the $1.8 billion budget mess. They did succeed in another round of partisan name-calling. The words of your leaders:
Gov. Granholm: “Missing: Our State Legislature. Last seen on vacation while tuition rates rose.”
House Speaker Dillon: “Senate Republicans walked away.”
Senate Majority Leader Bishop: House Democrats “need to come out from under their desks.”
House Minority Leader DeRoche: It’s “an effort to shut down government by the Democrats.”
House Majority Leader Tobocman: “You don’t see us going over to the (Senate) chamber and whining and asking their chamber to solve our problems. We actually are adult enough to realize we need to be at the table solving the problem and working together rather than pointing a finger over there…”
