Bumpy Road Ahead for State Economic Stimulus Projects LANSING, MI (Associated Press) -

The first test of how much squabbling Michigan lawmakers will do over federal stimulus money is likely to come this month when they make decisions on road spending.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration in the coming weeks plans to send the Legislature a road funding bill covering the first wave of roughly $625 million in state road projects.

The state has less than 120 days to commit to the first set of projects under terms of the federal law aimed at helping to pull the nation out of recession. Both Democrats and Republicans say they want to get the road money out the door.

But tensions already are rising, with some west Michigan Republicans worried their districts are getting shortchanged on a preliminary list of projects.

A revised final list of proposed projects should be available soon.
© Copyright 2012, Associated Press