In radio address, governor says challenge is producing budget that's right for Michigan

LANSING - In this week's radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said while a government shutdown on Thursday was averted, much work remains to be done on the state budget.
 
"The constitutional deadline for having a budget at the start of the new fiscal year was met, but the work on this budget is far from over," Granholm said.  "For while Michigan's constitution simply demands a balanced budget, Michigan's future demands more."
 
"Michigan's future demands a budget that helps us diversify our economy, attract new investment and create new jobs," Granholm said.  "Michigan's future demands a budget that keeps police officers and fire fighters on the job and on our streets.  Michigan's future demands a budget that helps our children afford a college education and protects people at risk during these tough economic times.  The budget that I proposed way back in February provides these essential things.  The budget passed by the Legislature does not."

"I will use my veto pen as a tool to shape this budget so that it protects the things that are most important to Michigan's families and Michigan's future," Granholm continued.  "With Michigan's future on the line, we can't afford a budget that does anything less."
 
"While I do my job, the Legislature must finish its," Granholm said.  "The budget is flawed, and the Legislature needs to resume working on it with the urgency and the honesty it requires."

"While a state government shutdown was averted on Thursday morning, critical steps are needed to move Michigan forward during these incredibly difficult times," Granholm said.  "For a budget is more than just numbers - it's a vision for our state's future.  Producing a budget that's right for Michigan is our challenge.  It's one I know and that I am determined we will meet."
 
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state.  The address is available on the governor's Web site at (www.michigan.gov/gov) for download, together with a clip of the quote above.  The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.  Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Budget Priorities

Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov217Full_294795_7.mp3 
Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov217Edit_294796_7.mp3 
Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov217Quote_294797_7.mp3

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Early Thursday morning, the Legislature took action on the state budget.  It averted a government shutdown.  The constitutional deadline for having a budget at the start of the new fiscal year was met, but the work on this budget is far from over.  For while Michigan's constitution simply demands a balanced budget, Michigan's future demands more.

Michigan's future demands a budget that helps us diversify our economy, attract new investment and create new jobs.

Michigan's future demands a budget that keeps police officers and fire fighters on the job and on our streets.

Michigan's future demands a budget that helps our children afford a college education and protects people at risk during these tough economic times.

The budget that I proposed way back in February provides these essential things.  The budget passed by the Legislature does not, and that's why I'll continue fighting for the right budget for Michigan.

In the days ahead, I'll carefully examine the budget sent to me by the Legislature.  The state must live within its means, and cuts are necessary.  No Michigan governor has cut more spending from state budgets than I have.

But I will use my veto pen as a tool to shape this budget so that it protects the things that are most important to Michigan's families and Michigan's future.  With Michigan's future on the line, we can't afford a budget that does anything less.

So while I'm disappointed with the budget produced by the Legislature, I'm determined to use my power in this process to give the people of Michigan a fiscally sound budget with the right priorities.  And those priorities are protecting people, creating jobs and educating our citizens.

While I do my job, the Legislature must finish its job.  This budget is flawed, and the Legislature needs to resume working on it with the urgency and the honesty it requires.  This budget not only has the wrong priorities, it's a fiscal house of cards that relies on one-time revenues from the federal stimulus package and President Obama that can't be sustained into the future.

While a state government shutdown was averted on Thursday morning, critical steps are needed to move Michigan forward during these incredibly difficult times.  For a budget is more than just numbers - it's a vision for our state's future.  Producing a budget that's right for Michigan is our challenge.  It's one I know and that I am determined we will meet.   

Thank you for listening.

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