LANSING – In the midst of Michigan's unprecedented budget crisis, State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) today held a town hall meeting that focused on the state's economy and presented details on the agreement reached late last week and the tough choices that have to be made to resolve the 2008 budget and move Michigan forward.
"While we made great strides last week in resolving our 2007 budget deficit, our state's 2008 budget is still in crisis," Byrum said. "We can no longer sit idly by with the hope that things will work themselves out. We must get our state moving forward while still protecting vital programs such as education, health care, police and fire protection and job creation."
The presentation detailed the chronic billion-dollar shortfalls plaguing the state since 2000 and the resulting negative impact that decreasing revenue has had on staging an economic comeback and delivering essential state services to the people of Michigan. Byrum explained that the agreement reached late last week protects community schools from deep funding cuts, safeguards funding for police and fire protection, prevents deep cuts to health care for our most vulnerable citizens, averts a government shutdown and resolves Michigan's immediate $803.2 million budget deficit. However, Byrum noted that the state's 2008 budget still remains unresolved.
Byrum was joined by State Representatives Joan Bauer (D-Lansing), Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) and George Cushingberry (D-Detroit). She also used the town hall to hear from participants about proposals and alternatives being studied on how to resolve the budget crisis and make Michigan a powerhouse in the highly competitive 21st century global economy.
"My colleagues and I scored a tremendous victory for the people of Michigan by passing a plan that resolves the 2007 budget deficit last Friday," Byrum said. "Now, we all need to work to overcome the budget shortfall for 2008. Michigan has the potential to be an economic powerhouse and this town hall is just part of the work I am doing to ensure that potential is harnessed."