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Senate GOP cuts school funds, votes down tax hike

Published March 22, 2007

LANSING (AP) - Senate Republicans yesterday passed a $34-per-student cut for schools, then voted for hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to local governments, community corrections, health care and other programs after deciding Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed spending rollbacks didn't go far enough.

The cutbacks are unlikely to pass the Democrat-controlled House or be approved by the Democratic governor. The GOP cuts are "bad for Michigan citizens," Granholm's spokeswoman said.

Senate Republicans also voted down Granholm's proposed 2 percent tax on most services. Granholm wants to bring in more tax revenue through the tax, which would start June 1 and raise about $1.5 billion a year.

"We've been listening to the citizens of the state who've repeatedly said `no' to new taxes," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester).

The Senate took up the tax bill yesterday and defeated it on a 22-16 vote. Sen. Glenn Anderson of Westland was the only Democrat to side with the Republicans voting against it.

About the only place where Granholm and Senate Republicans saw eye-to-eye was on an executive order she issued yesterday afternoon. It included $344 million in cuts and other changes, which would cover more than one-third of the $940 million shortfall in the state budget.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the order yesterday afternoon. It includes cuts in day care services for children of welfare recipients, long-term care services, training for new prison guards, foster care payments, job training grants and the state library.

Senate Republicans didn't present their final list of $255.3 million in cuts and other changes until 7:30 p.m. yesterday, drawing the ire of Democrats who said they were being given no time to study the cuts before being forced to vote on them.

It was the first time Senate Republicans had revealed their entire list of cuts after insisting that the shortfall be dealt with through spending cuts and other changes. Granholm criticized Republicans for relying only on cuts and accounting changes to fill the gap, a criticism echoed last night by Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor).

"I'm not surprised it took you so long to unveil these cuts," she told GOP senators. "I'd be embarrassed, too."

The Republican plan would restore money to avoid state police layoffs, but took aim at other programs that have drawn GOP ire: An investment fund intended to encourage the growth of high-tech and biotech businesses; the Healthy Michigan Fund intended to improve residents' health; and state subsidies for adult home care workers in some counties.


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