Our governor Granholm has a budget proposal which she's disclosed publically. The Republicans state senate has a super secret budget proposal that they will not disclose (much like Dick DeVos last year), yet they stonewall Granholm's proposal. This has been going on for a month.

So Granholm tries to have a meeting on Monday with Mike Bishop, head of the
Republican state senate, about important budget stuff. Bishop decided that he had a full plate and couldn't meet with the governor on Monday:


“We cleared our calendars because this is so important to the state of Michigan,” Granholm told reporters. “I told" Bishop "to clear his calendar after March 15. I thought I had a meeting with him. He said he has a full schedule today.”
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/NEWS06/70319022/1008

On Tuesday, they have their meeting, and Mike Bishop made a funny:

Both Dillon and Bishop said Tuesday that there's no time to waste.

"Everyone knows that time is of the essence," Dillon said. "Every day we wait, the problem grows."

Agreed Bishop: "We need to get this job done yesterday."
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6253333

So, we need this yesterday and you were too busy yesterday? Funny, you sound a lot more like a problem than a solution. Hopefully someone's paying attention. Everyone bitches about the governor, but no one pays attention to our state legislature, even when they're a bunch of idiots giving raises to themselves. That's why they get re-elected. <groan>

Anyone see the irony in the city of Troy is bitching about the new Hooters when the main drag is Big Beaver Road, exit 69?

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/NEWS03/703190345/1001


Hooters: It's last chance to settle Troy

BY GINA DAMRON

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The brazen restaurant chain known for its tank-top, shorts-wearing waitresses has issued an ultimatum to the City of Troy.

Settle now or face a long-running court battle.

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Hooters of America Inc. has presented the City Council with a new settlement -- the second in three months -- which would lead the company to drop all pending litigation, including a $1-million federal lawsuit. The dispute is over the transfer of a liquor license.

The council is scheduled to discuss whether to approve the offer tonight, but it may be postponed because two council members are expected to miss the meeting for personal reasons.

City Attorney Lori Grigg Bluhm said that Hooters attorney Edward Lennon e-mailed her last week, asking that the council postpone action until April 2 because Councilwomen Robin Beltramini and Jeanne Stine will likely be absent tonight.

Both councilwomen have consistently voted in favor of granting Hooters a liquor license transfer.

Hooters has sought a liquor license transfer for its new location on Big Beaver and Rochester roads. The council voted against the transfer in June, saying the restaurant doesn't fit the image of the Big Beaver corridor.

The council also decided not to approve a settlement agreement in January that would have halted the lawsuits. That deal would have allowed the restaurant to sell alcohol and required that Hooters close its second Troy location on John R.

Bluhm said that the new agreement allows for more signage than the previous one -- a point of contention for the council -- but still guarantees that the John R location would be closed if the transfer is granted.

"They're gambling with taxpayers' money," Hooters attorney Lennon said.

But Councilman Wade Fleming maintains that the city has a strong fight, both in federal court and the Michigan Court of Appeals, where Hooters is challenging a ruling by an Oakland County Circuit Court judge that upheld the city's decision.

Lennon said if the council doesn't agree to the settlement, the court proceedings could be lengthy. Bluhm said there may not be another hearing set in appeals court until the fall.

Fleming said he's willing to take the risk -- and anticipates that other council members are, too, based on their voting records.

Doh!
Could someone fork off my Hooters post into a separate thread?

Your Hooters post has political overtones. I think it's fine.

Michigan's bond rating is about to get fucked.

It already got fucked a bit, owing to the SBT shenanigans from last year. This is effectively a continuation of that mess and just adds to the fuckage.