By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-926693.mp3
LANSING, MI – Lawmakers have completed work on the state budget, before the October first deadline.
Budget negotiations this year were missing most of the heated arguments and public rancor see at the Capitol in recent years. But even though things went more smoothly this year, Republican state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop says tensions were still high at times between the Senate and House.
"It's my Legislative Serenity Prayer - I've learned to accept the things I cannot change," Bishop says.
So the bickering is over and the budget is complete. And it's done before the October first deadline, even though Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon had predicted it would be done much earlier. He says he's happy to leave behind the guessing-game of when the budget will be done.
"I never have to answer a question again about the budget timing, so yes, I'm very happy," Dillon says.
Both Bishop and Dillon agree the budget could be much messier next year without the federal stimulus money that helped balance the state budget this year. But neither man will be around to deal with it, as both are term-limited out at the end of this year.