Posted on 09/28/2007 8:21:43 PM PDT by Jack Black
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two-thirds of Michigan's state government workers were told Friday not to report to work Monday as negotiations continued on a budget plan that could avert a partial state government shutdown.
Messages went to about 35,000 state workers, telling them they were being placed on a temporary layoff beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday and not to go to work unless otherwise notified.
About 18,000 state employees will remain on the job, including 12,000 prison employees, said Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"We will have limited state police," Boyd added.
A shutdown would mean most government operations would cease, including food safety and gas pump inspections, liquor deliveries, lottery ticket sales, the issuance of driver's licenses, and construction on state roads, Granholm said Friday.
A Wayne County judge, however, on Friday gave the three Detroit casinos permission to stay open even if the state is unable to oversee them during a shutdown. The casinos contribute $1 million a day to state public schools and Detroit public safety, a casino spokesman said.
Members of the Granholm administration met with both House parties on Friday afternoon, raising hopes that a proposal was close to fill a $1.75 billion shortfall in the fiscal year that starts Monday.
Negotiations center on raising the state's personal income tax rate, now at 3.9 percent, to as high as 4.6 percent. Another key issue is extending the sales tax to some new services.
Budget negotiations continued into Friday evening, and there was hope among some at the Capitol that an agreement was within reach.
SHUTDOWN MICHIGAN !! 35,000 layed off !!
Time for a cocktail! How awesome is this. Any day that 35,000 govt. workers are laid off is a good day. Sure this will get resolved evnetually, but the Michigan Republicans have called the bluff of the woman socialist Canadian Gov. (We can only dream the Trent lot and the boys learn from this object lesson in how to play hardball)
Imagine the excellent outcomes. Granholm has made a big deal of punishing (who she percieves) as the Republican base. As of Monday you will not be able to buy booze, smokes or gamble in Michigan casinos.
I think she has BADLY misread the situation. If the R's can drag out the shut down the massive state-funded ghettos of Detroit will start to empty out as the gravy (delivered religously since the 1967 riots)is cut off.
40 YEARS OF WELFARE AND DEPENDENCY -- CRUSHED! This could have instant and lasting positive effects on the budget. And, even more so, on the voting in Michigan. Detroit city still has nearly 1,000,000 residents, nearly all of whom vote Democratic. (Not to mention the well documented proclivity of Detroit Dem operatives to stuff the ballot boxes).
Keep your eyes on this situation. There is a lot more at stake here than meets the eyes.
That state should hum like a well oiled machine now. Why don’t all you trained workers come to Texas. We have thousands of unfilled jobs, no state income tax and very affordable housing. Avoid the Libtards of Austin and you will be fine.
Interesting.
The state delivers liquor? WOW
Vote for Hillary and she will ruin the country.
The state will regret that one.
Next step is to make sure at least half of them never come back to work for the state. Good opportunity to permanently trim the bloated bureaucracy built up by generations of Demagogues and RINOs.
Happy day is right!
Government offices have better computers, equipment, desks and chairs than do the average small business in this State, and I would imagine anywhere.
And that is a crime.
No sh!t, JB, not the least of which is the blessed political demise of that Canadian born b!tch that a few were wanting to bend the exclusion rules and declare her a possible Pres candidate, shortly after she was elected Guv..
i love it!
reality comes to the democrat plantation.
“A Wayne County judge, however, on Friday gave the three Detroit casinos permission to stay open even if the state is unable to oversee them during a shutdown. The casinos contribute $1 million a day to state public schools and Detroit public safety, a casino spokesman said.”
A million dollars a day to the government from gambling. Unbelievable. Plus, lottery and liquor revenues? So how much of the Michigan state government is funded by lower income folks and their addictions? When will they wake up to this fact?
How are they going to survive without their lottery tickets?
Does this mean Jeff Daniels is unemployed now?
I wonder how long it will take for anyone to notice they are shut down?
She was a lousy attorney general of the state. She is a lousy governor of the state.
(Can't wait until doctors and nurses become gubmint workers...)
Negotiations center on raising the state’s personal income tax rate, now at 3.9 percent, to as high as 4.6 percent.
LOL! Yes, that will work!! LOL! Yeehah, tax the crap out of your citizens!
whats a state income tax? /s
Aren’t you afraid of massive rioting?
You know how the national media will play this....”Evil Republicans cut off needed funds for poor women and children.”
Gheesh Michigan, what happened to you? And when did you get into the liquor business, prohibition?
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