Legislators will be forced to own the cuts they voted for regardless of what chamber they originated in. The misguided strategy that voters/constituents will focus negative attention and anger on the Senate Republicans once the House passes these budgets is seriously flawed.
As an organization, it will be almost impossible for us to defend those legislators that support the drastic Senate proposed cuts. We will stand with those legislators who support working families? priorities and principles. We will support you just as we did in the aftermath of the 2007 budget crisis.
With our state?s declining revenue and on-going structural deficit, even if the Senate proposed cuts are passed and enacted, legislators will likely be forced to make further cuts throughout 2010 if revenue solutions are not now addressed in this current budget process.
The alleged Dillon/Bishop deal is based on negotiations that occurred behind closed doors and left the Governor and Senate Democrats out of the process. If history is any indication, a similar 2007 strategy crashed and burned leaving some House Democrats subject to recall efforts. It was the UAW, other unions and the Democratic constituency groups who fought side-by-side with these legislators to defeat all the recall efforts.
There is a better, more comprehensive budget strategy being proposed by both the Governor and the Senate Democrats. It preserves some of the essential programs and services that are now on the chopping block while finding new sources of revenue without raising taxes.
If a continuation budget is needed it should not be used to advance the current Dillon/Bishop agenda. It should be used as an opportunity to create solutions that protect Michigan?s citizens and move to restoring a quality of life they deserve.
UAW is asking legislators to consider ALL the options available rather than blindly following the ill conceived Dillon/Bishop agenda. New sources of revenue are needed before passing any budget bills that deeply hurt workers, their families and retirees.
CALL LEGISLATORS TODAY BEFORE IT?S TOO LATE AND TELL THEM TO FIGHT FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
