By AP
LANSING, MI – The top Republican in the Michigan Senate says he and the Democratic House speaker are moving ahead with a plan to balance the state budget with at least $1.2 billion in spending cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop also told WWJ-AM radio Tuesday that there so far is no agreement to take up bills later that would avoid some cuts by raising additional tax revenue.
Bishop says he and House Speaker Andy Dillon have agreed to get budget conference committees to work to "get this thing done." Lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm are facing an Oct. 1 deadline to address a $2.7 billion hole in the next budget.
A spokeswoman for Dillon had no immediate comment. A Granholm spokeswoman has said leaving the administration out of budget talks will not fly.