Senate approves Department of Labor and Economic Growth budget
LANSING - The Senate approved the Department of Labor and Economic Growth budget proposal for the 2008 fiscal year Wednesday, said Sen. Mark Jansen, chair of the DLEG Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and sponsor of the legislation.
"Michigan residents expect legislators to help our economy to get back on its feet," said Jansen, R-Gaines Township. "My job is to help Michigan business owners be successful in Michigan and remove any obstacle possible."
The DLEG budget passed by the Senate is more than $40 million below the governor's recommendation. Jansen said the governor proposed spending for new programs, which Michigan residents cannot afford to fund during such trying economic times.
Senate Bill 234 includes $37 million of federal funds for the "No Worker Left Behind" program. No Worker Left Behind is a free tuition program designed to help Michigan workers acquire the skills needed to obtain good-paying jobs.
Dedicated to ensuring public safety, the Senate added $300,000 to the budget for the Bureau of Fire Services for fire safety. Additionally, the approved budget maintained fire protection grants.
According to Jansen, Senate Republicans are dedicated to improving the state's economy - therefore they protected businesses by limiting administrative rules the department can adopt, except when they lessen the burden on small business.
As passed by the Senate, the budget holds the line on new fees by not including the governor's changes that were based on new fee revenue. The governor proposed fee increases in some areas of almost 300 percent on small businesses - which will hurt local jobs.
Other recommendations in SB 234 include:
* Administrative reductions totaling $125,000, which concurs with the governor's recommendation;
* Language requiring the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to report on only the number of actual direct jobs created as a result of a financial or tax incentive packages.
Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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