Where's the Ship? Granholm says senate leader is a no show

Detroit Free Press - www.freep.com - Granholm calls senate majority leader a no-show Granholm calls senate majority leader a no-show March 19, 2007 By CHRIS CHRISTOFF FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU Gov. Jennifer Granholm called Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, a no-show for a meeting today to resolve the state’s budget crisis. She said Bishop agreed to a meeting Tuesday. But a peeved Granholm criticized Senate Republicans for dragging their feet and threatening the state with State Police layoffs and budget cuts to schools. Granholm has called for a budget agreement by April 1 in order to avoid state aid cuts to schools. Granholm has proposed a new, 2% tax on services as a key part of her budget-balancing plan, which Republicans have labeled a job-killing tax hike they’ll reject.Granholm said Bishop told her his schedule was too busy Monday to meet. In a letter to him Friday, she called for a meeting with legislative leaders for 10 a.m. today. Granholm was in her Capitol office, along with Senate Democratic leaders, Lt. Gov. John Cherry and state Budget Director Bob Emerson. Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon was on his way to Lansing, Granholm said.But no Bishop.“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.”Granholm, who returned Thursday from a trade mission to Germany, said that if Bishop can’t meet with her, he should empower a representative to meet. “I am extremely frustrated,” Granholm said. “Not only do I not have anyone to negotiate with, but I have no plan to negotiated against.”Granholm said she did not have a firm commitment from Bishop on a Monday meeting, but added, “We expected there’s be someone from their side here.”Bishop’s spokesman had not returned phone calls during the hour after the proposed meeting time.The state faces a deficit of $900 million this fiscal year, and one of as much as $3 billion next year unless Granholm and lawmakers agree to steps to avert massive cuts. Last month, Senate Republicans rejected a budget-balancing order from Granholm. Granholm has complained that GOP lawmakers won’t publicly disclose their own plans for budget cuts.