The Senate Republican "plan": a chronology

by: Hazen Pingree

Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 18:19:01 PM EST

• February 15, 2007 (Associated Press)
  
  Republicans aren't specifying what further cuts to make, but they plan to prepare an alternative proposal in the "near future."
  
  "It's on us right now," Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop of Rochester, the Legislature's top Republican, said Wednesday. "If the Republican caucus has said that we can do it in the form of cuts, then we've got to put our money where our mouth is and get it done. We're going to do everything we can to make that happen."
  
  
• February 16, 2007 (Detroit News)
  
  “Republicans said Tuesday they believe it's their responsibility to find additional budget cuts before asking citizens to pay more taxes. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said his caucus would propose its own budget-balancing plan in the coming weeks.”
  
  
• February 20, 2007 (MIRS)
  
  Bishop emphasized that it is the governor's responsibility to draft a second executive order after the Senate Appropriations Committee summarily rejected her first one last week. But this time he said the Republicans want input on what's in it so that a second rejection can be avoided.
  
  The governor has demanded a plan from the GOP because she could not negotiate with a "vapor." Bishop concurred.
  
  "She suggests she's dealing with vapor. That's exactly what we're doing. We've not seen her plan in place yet." The Oakland County Republican said the administration has not introduced any bills, yet.

• February 22, 2007 (MIRS):
  
  "Let's remember that it's not my obligation or this Legislature's obligation to come forward with a solution," Bishop said.
  
  
• February 23, 2007 (MIRS)
  
  Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) continues to hold his caucus' budget plan close to the vest and refuses to show his cards until Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM puts something on paper — as in "a bill."
  
  
• March 2, 2007 (Detroit News):
  
  Key elements of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget proposals, including several tax increases, have been introduced in the Legislature amid tension with Senate Republicans.
  
  Democrats in the House and Senate signed on as sponsors of 23 bills containing the key elements of Granholm's plan.
  
  
• March 2, 2007 (Detroit News – same article as above):
  
  Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, says his caucus has compiled a $900 million list of cuts that would bridge the projected shortfall this year.
  
  But Bishop says he won't make the recommendations public until he has discussed them with Granholm.
  
  
• March 9, 2007 (Detroit News):
  
  Sen. Valde Garcia, R-Howell, who was in the audience said Republicans will propose about $500 million in cuts and a similar amount in accounting shifts. But he said the list of cuts will be revealed in closed-door talks with the governor.



• March 20, 2007 (Detroit Free Press):Granholm said Bishop told her his schedule was too busy Monday to meet. In a letter to him Friday she called for a meeting with legislative leaders to at 10 a.m. today.
  
  Granholm was in her Capitol office, along with Senate Democratic leaders, Lt. Gov. John Cherry and state budget director Bob Emerson. Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon was on his way to Lansing, Granholm said.
  
  But no Bishop.
  
  "We cleared our calendars because this is so important to the state of Michigan," Granholm told reporters. "I told (Bishop) to clear his calendar after March 15. I thought I had a meeting with him. He said he has a full schedule today."