Mixed-up Priorities

Our State Legislature managed to get it together -- easily, apparently cordially, and quickly -- to pass a bill moving the Michigan primary to January 15th. The House vote was 67 to 34; the Senate’s was 36 to 0. The Governor signed it just as fast.

What did we get out of this?

The national parties are threatening to not seat our delegates; none of the Dem candidates will campaign here; local election workers have serious concerns; the data will be available to state political parties but not to the citizens whose taxes will foot the bill; and last but not least

***WE STILL DON'T HAVE A BUDGET***

Now, I'll agree that New Hampshire and Iowa aren't exactly representative of our country as a whole. I'd also agree that the existing primary system is pretty goofy. But it's a major leap to assume that scheduling a January 15th primary will result in oodles of campaign dollars coming to Michigan, or that it will put our dire economic situation on the national radar screen.

What would help our state attract and keep businesses here? Oh, I don't know. Maybe a BUDGET? Our state's credit rating keeps on sliding and there's no end in sight. Standard & Poor's had a recent article which included this observation:

"the nature of the cuts that may be required at the end of 2007 because of failed negotiations on previous gap closing measures all suggest that the state could struggle with fiscal imbalances even beyond 2008." And that "...2007 actions that only defer needed budget adjustments rather than address them will make true fiscal balance in 2008 more difficult. Further downgrades are possible without economic stabilization and real action to restore fiscal balance."

(emphasis mine)

Memo to Lansing: do the job you have been elected to do. Do the job you are paid to do. Do the right thing for our state and make the budget a priority.