MichiganRadio

Governor to Legislature: Go Back to Work on "the Right Budget." LANSING, MI (MPRN) -

Governor Granholm says she's not satisfied with the budget sent to her by the Legislature. She says big vetoes are on the way. She wants lawmakers to restore critical programs and raise taxes to fund them.

"So while we are disappointed with the budget that emerged, I am determined to use whatever tools I have at my disposal as governor to give the people the right budget," says Granholm.

The governor says she specifically wants the Legislature to fund the Michigan Promise college scholarship and restore cuts to Medicaid payments for doctors and nursing homes.

The state is operating on a temporary continuation budget while the governor goes over spending bills the Legislature sent her Wednesday and Thursday. Lawmakers missed the budget deadline by two hours.

"She can cut what she wants," says Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, "We'd be willing to talk to her about cuts. That was our plan from the beginning. If she wants to cut more out of government, then God bless her. Let her do what she has to do, but it just seems absurd to me that we're now at the phase of being vindictive."

Bishop says the prolonged budget standoff shows there is not support in the Legislature for increasing taxes or fees. © Copyright 2012, MPRN