Lawmakers reach budget target agreement
LANSING—Lawmakers have reached a bipartisan, bicameral target agreement for the state’s budget, said Senate Appropriations Committee member Sen. Mark C. Jansen.
“The agreement reached today will allow the Legislature to make the necessary spending cuts and deliver a balanced budget to the governor,” said Jansen, R-Gaines Township.
Signed this afternoon, the agreement establishes guidelines for reaching a budget resolution.
Earlier in the day, the Senate approved a resolution that will help prevent the threat of future state government shutdowns.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 would require each chamber of the Legislature to adopt a resolution matching its proposed expenditures with the required revenue sources by June 1.
“Michigan’s taxpayers deserve a responsible balanced budget – not the looming threat of the state shutting down,” Jansen said. “We must act now to help prevent another state shutdown from happening.”
The resolution states in part, “If either house of the Legislature relies on higher revenues than those determined at the immediately preceding revenue estimating conference, that house’s resolution shall detail how those revenues will be increased.”
Article IV, Section 31 of the Michigan Constitution states: “One of the general appropriation bills as passed by the Legislature shall contain an itemized statement of estimated revenue by major source … the total of which shall not be less than the total of all appropriations made.”
SCR 21 now heads to the Michigan House for consideration.
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009
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