LANSING – State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) today announced that the legislature put Michigan on the road to recovery by passing a bold, bipartisan plan to solve our state's unprecedented fiscal crisis. The budget plan, which covers the 2008 fiscal year, is a mix of cuts, reforms and revenues that protects funding for vital services and gets Michigan's economy back on track. By making reductions in nearly all state department budgets, the plan saves the state more than $400 million.
"This plan does not rely on one-time fixes; it is a lasting budget solution that cuts wasteful and inefficient spending while also making critical investments in public safety, education and job creation," Lahti said. "To be a magnet for businesses that will bring good-paying jobs to our state, we must get our economy back up and running – and this budget plan will do just that."
Under the threat of a government shutdown, the House and Senate passed a continuation budget on Oct. 1 that kept the State of Michigan open for business while the Legislature continued to work toward a budget solution. House Democrats have said from the beginning that a budget solution would have to include cutting the fat out of state government while keeping vital services intact.
"There is a lot of hard work ahead, and I am optimistic that we will get Michigan back on track," Lahti said. "It's now time for my fellow lawmakers and me to get on with the business of rejuvenating Michigan's economy, creating jobs for our workers, and building a brighter future for our state and our residents."