Republicans respond after governor's State of the State

Republicans respond after governor's State of the State

THAT PROPOSAL IS NOT SITTINGWELL WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS...WHO GAVE THEIROFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE "STATEOF THE STATE" ADDRESS TODAY.AS THEY TELL OUR CHRISTIANAFORD... THEY AREN'T COMPLETELYAGAINSTTHE IDEA... BUT SAY... THE DEVILIS IN THE DETAILS."LAST NIGHT WAS A LOT OFPOLITICAL THEATER.

KABUKITHEATER"HOUSE SPEAKER LEE CHATFIELD ANDSENATOR MIKE SHIRKEY SAY THEGOVERNOR'S PLAN TOBORROW $3.5 BILLION DOLLARS TOFIX STATE HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGESIS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS."I HESITATE TO CALL IT A PLAN.THIS IS A FINANCING SOLUTIONTHAT SHE WANTS TO DO FOR THEROADS.

THISIS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO TAKECREDIT FOR ORANGE BARRELS THATWE'RE PUTTING OUT ON THEROADS"THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN..."A LOT OF MICHIGAN PEOPLE DON'TUNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT BONDINGREPRESENTS.

AND I BELIEVETODAY RIGHT NOW AFTER WATCHINGWHAT OCCURED LAST NIGHT THEY'RETHINKING 'OH OURGOVERNOR HAS COME UP WITH SOMEMIRACULOUS SOLUTION TO FIX THEROADS AND THE FACT OF THEMATTER IS IT'S NOT"AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITHTHE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR ON ALONG-TERM ROAD FIX.CHATFIELD SAYS THIS NEW PLAN ISHYPOCRITICAL."DON'T FORGET.

THIS GOVERNORVETOED NEARLY 400 MILLIONDOLLARS IN ONE TIME FUNDING FORROADS--WHY?

BECAUSE SHE SAID ITWASN'T A LONG-TERM ROAD FUNDINGSOLUTION AND THAT SHE WOULDN'TSIGN SOMETHING UNLESS IT WAS ALONG TERM PLAN.

SO WHAT'S HERPLAN B A SHORT-TERM FINANCINGSOLUTION"ON TOP OF THAT --THE DETAILS OFHOW THE STATE PLANS TO PAY BACKTHE MONEY IS TO BEDETERMINED."THIS GOVERNOR HAS NOW PRESENTEDTWO IDEAS.

ONE WAS A MASSIVE TAXHIKE AND ONE WAS A MASSIVELOAN.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER ISWE'RE ALREADY PAYING BACK ON TWOLOANS THAT WE'VE DONE FROMTWO OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS "AND RIGHT NOW THEIR HANDS ARETIED."IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IN TTHECONSITITUION THAT WE THELEGISLATURE HAVE LIMITED ABILITYTO PRIORITZEWHERE THE BONDING PROCEEDS ARESPENT"THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WOULD ONLYPROVIDE MONEY FOR STATE ROADSAND BRIDGES...BUT COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLEFOR 74- PERCENT OF THE ROADMILES IN THE STATE.

REPUBLICANSWANT TO HELP PAY FOR THE ROADS..BY PUTTING ALL THE MONEY FROMTHESALES TAX ON GAS INTO THAT FUND.THEY HAVEN'T SAID... HOW THEY'DMAKE UP FOR THE MASSIVEEDUCATION FUND