I am sure that many of you are aware that late last week and early this week there was talk of the state “shutting down” until congress was able to agree on a new budget. In the end the state “shut down” for about four hours Sunday night and Monday morning. In class there were many questions about what would happen while the state was “shut down” and how we are affected by it. The first thing that you need to know is why the state would need to “shut down”. The reason for a “shut down” is that the Republicans and the Democrats in Michigan’s congress are unable to agree on a new budget for the state. The original state tax, before the new budget, was 3.9% the Democrats wanted to raise it to 4.6%, however the Republicans wanted to only raise it to 4.3%. Unless a compromise is made or one side gives in to the other the state has no new budget and would therefore be forced to “shut down” until a verdict was reached. Luckily, it did not take congress more than four hours to end the “shut down” with a new budget. A compromise was reached and state tax was only raised to 4.35%. If the state were to be “shut down” for more than just a couple of hours government services will be unavailable/ closed. Here is a list, courtesy of http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/NEWS06/709300604, of government services that will be unavailable during a state “shut down”:
· Renew your driver's license or tabs at a Secretary of State branch office.
· Drive across five drawbridges -- they'll be left in the up position.
· Dodge horse manure on Mackinac Island. Manure pick-up will stop.
· Find relief at a highway rest stop. They'll all close.
· Know that the gallon of gas you pumped is really a gallon. Inspectors won't be checking pumps.
· Know that inspectors are making sure recalled food is removed from grocery stores.
· Bet at a horse race track.
· Get a discrimination complaint investigated.
· Get a wetlands, air quality surface water discharge or dredging permit.
· Enjoy the Michigan Historical Museum.
· Do some research at the Library of Michigan.
· Check out the cannons at Ft. Mackinac on Mackinac Island.
· Open a new case to get assistance for unemployment, food stamps or foster care.
· Buy a lottery ticket or claim winnings on an old ticket.
· Go to a state park.
· Get your dead deer checked at a state check station.
· File a complaint at a Michigan State Police post.
· Say good-bye to barrels on the state's highways. Road projects stop, the barrels stay.
· Things you won't have to worry about:
· Prisons -- felons stay put.
· Getting Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment or welfare checks for existing cases.
· Investigations of child abuse or neglect and foster care complaints.
· Testing drinking water supplies.
· Payments for day care centers, adoptions or foster care homes.
· Payment of child support from non-custodial parents.
In my opinion, if the “shut down” had lasted longer than there would have been mass chaos throughout the state. All though a “shut down” would press congress to make a decision on the budget I think that the cons out weigh the pros. There should be a better way to go about making state budget decisions. In the end a decision was made and the Republicans were most pleased with the outcome. I agree with the Democrats. If we were to raise state taxes then the state would be able to make more money and get out of this economic rut we are a currently stuck in. What do you think about the state’s decision on the new budget and what a state “shut down” entails?