REPUBLICANS MOVE TO PROTECT ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

The House Republican caucus today introduced the Republican Emergency Plan to Protect Essential Services and avoid the second state shutdown within three years.

"Michigan can ill-afford another government shutdown," said House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin. "That path does not end in prosperity for Michigan. While the House and Senate work diligently to solve the budget crisis, the Republican Plan to Protect Essential Services prevents a government shutdown and protects the essential services and operations such as police and fire protection that Michigan residents depend on."

Assistant Republican Leader Arlan Meekhof today introduced House Bill 5379 that will keep essential government services available to the public if legislative leaders and Governor Granholm fail to meet their Oct. 1 budget deadline.

"Michigan families are counting on state leaders to end the budget crisis and prevent a government shutdown," said Meekhof, R-West Olive. "While it is our job as a Legislature to complete a balanced budget, Michigan residents deserve more. They are facing a crisis too -- a jobs crisis. It's time for the Legislature to focus on putting Michigan families back to work."

Michigan is facing a $2.8 billion budget deficit. For the 2010 Fiscal Year, which begins on Oct. 1. The House Republican caucus introduced a plan in July of this year to avoid a government shutdown by balancing the budget without raising taxes and infusing stimulus dollars into our economy to create an estimated 11,000 jobs throughout the state through infrastructure improvements and capital for small businesses. The entire GOP plan can be found at www.gophouse.com/plan.

#####