Here We Go Again: Michigan's Temporary Budget Expires in Five Days With Potential for Another Government Shutdown

Well, here we go again.

Michigan's budget crisis is back in our faces again. Legislators have failed to pass a single part of the seventeen-part budget since they got Governor Granholm to agree to a month-long extension of last year's budget 26 days ago.

And once again, Michigan is looking at the possibility of another government shutdown.

Both sides insist progress is being made and have adjourned until Monday.

They had better be right; because the sooner they pass it the sooner they can get into remedial communications classes to address their problems in talking with one another.

Governor Granholm Issues Layoff Notices to 35,000 State Workers: State Shutdown as of Monday at 12:01AM

Our elected state government in Lansing is failing to come to agreement on Michigan's 2007-2008 budget, and Governor Granholm has begun to take steps to shut down the state government. Under Michigan's constitution, the state cannot spend one cent unless a balanced budget is in place.

The state isn't running out of money; it simply will not have the authority to spend anything.

Democrats and Republicans each control one house in the state legislature and they've adopted contradicting bills on what to tax, and what to cut in order to get rid of a forecasted $1.8 billion shortfall.

Once this crisis is resolved, I think the voters of Michigan need new leadership in the state legislature. This is going to be quite embarrassing if the government needs to shut down. John Schneider over at the Lansing State Journal called this situation a "slow motion train wreck" and he's absolutely right.

Editorials in many Michigan newspapers are calling for this stupidity to end and for both sides to compromise. I agree. These people need to get off their fat lazy asses and MOVE IT!

You have two friggin' hours!