Wednesday, June 13, 2007

And about those budget talks...



The Republicans, who ran around for months promoting cuts, are now complaining that they are being threatened with cuts.



Go figure.



A handful of House Republicans said they have been threatened by Democrats with individualized budget cuts to universities, community colleges and even K-12 schools in their own districts if they don't vote in favor of an income tax increase or a tax on some types of services.



The GOP members said they feel the pressure put on them by Democrats goes beyond politics as usual, crosses ethical lines and borders on blackmail.



And if anyone should know about going beyond politics as usual, crossing ethical lines, and blackmail, it would be the Republicans.



So, they can vote for devastating cuts to their districts on their own, but they want to make sure they take the Democrats down with them when they do. When they are called out, they run crying to the press.



If that even happened at all. Something about "individualized cuts" sounds vaguely illegal, and if it's not, it should be.



But the key House Democrat singled out for the criticism said his message has been consistent and that all institutions in Michigan could be threatened unless Michigan comes up with more cash to address its budget problems.



Rep. Matt Gillard, a Democrat from Alpena, called the Republican charges against him the "height of hypocrisy." He said some connected with the GOP have been threatening recall elections tied to the tax increase debate for weeks.



"I have been clear and consistent in my message. I think the majority of Democrats have been clear and consistent in their message," Gillard said. "It's a budget crisis. It threatens all of us. It threatens any institution that is dependent upon state funding. Anyone who doesn't realize that, I don't know what rock they're living under."



Don't think I want to know what rock the Republicans have been living under, thanks anyway.



This is going to be an.... interesting... debate, I can tell already.