Business Leaders Here About Tough Economic Times In Lansing and a Balanced Approach to Solving the Problem

Business Leaders for Michigan once again is calling for a balanced approach to solving the State's fiscal woes. Yesterday, the group and the Center for Michigan held a forum in Lansing.

"Business Leaders for Michigan, (is) a coalition of leading state executives who have issued a state fiscal rescue plan that includes tax increases, spending reforms and outright cuts.

With federal stimulus money drying up and Medicaid and prison costs swallowing half of the state’s general fund budget, the state’s tax base can’t pay for all current services, even with a decade of spending cuts, said (Gary) Olson (director of the non-partisan Senate Fiscal Agency) and other analysts.

Even with a moderate economic upturn, “In a couple years we’re going to be right back trying to cut services or trying to find revenue to pay for it,” warned Mitch Bean, director of the House Fiscal Agency."

Nice to see that influential business leaders believe what makes the most sense is a balanced approach to fiscal reform.

The folks who rely on the State's budget for social services, education, health and other services deserve nothing less.



www.freep.com/article/20100517/NEWS15/100517041/1322/Budget-experts-predict-economic-dire-straits