EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) They didn't agree on how to fix
Michigan's ongoing budget troubles, but a panel of leaders from
business groups and organizations representing teachers, cities and
the poor agreed they can't wait until next fall to fix the problem.
The four-hour discussion sponsored by The Center for Michigan
took place Tuesday morning at the Eagle Eye Golf Club in East
Lansing.
Falling revenues and growing tax breaks have left Michigan with
a shortfall of at least $1 billion next year after a $2.8 billion
deficit this year.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative leaders are gridlocked
over how best to deal with Michigan's ongoing fiscal difficulties.
The consensus reached Tuesday was that leaders need to move
beyond gridlock soon to change how Michigan runs.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)