The state will begin to move forward this week after approving about $500 million in budget reductions.
Spending decreases could negatively affect state workers and prisons, but education was left unscathed.
“It appears that they did their best to protect education, but as a result, a lot of other things took hits,” said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, a Lansing-based newsletter. “Most recently you heard all these comments about unnecessary prisons.”
Ballenger said the budget reductions aren’t as severe as those he has witnessed in the past.
“Any time you cut a budget, it is unpleasant,” he said.
McPherson concerned about tuition tax credit
Members of the state House continue to recess until after Thanksgiving, leaving little hope that the tuition tax credit repeal will reach fruition this year.
In the wake of state revenue shortfalls, MSU administrators say they are losing confidence that students will ever see refunds checks of $164 for 30 credits.
“I think that is a justified fear,” MSU President M. Peter McPherson said. “We all worked so hard, the students and the administration, but I think it is going to be very difficult to get the repeal this year.
“Ultimately, there wasn’t the support.”
Levin to review border patrol policy
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, will hear testimony from border patrol agents about how those arrested for entering the country illegally are released.
The agents say once illegal aliens are released, they often stay in the nation and don’t come to trials.
Levin, the chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said information shows that nearly 50 percent of those arrested never show up for trial.
“We are routinely releasing persons who have entered the United States illegally outside our ports of entry, hoping they will show up a few months later at a hearing, without knowing where they live, who they are, or whether they have committed any crimes,” Levin said in a statement.
“That is unacceptable.”
Staff writer Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.
