LANSING, Mich. Michigan's new state government spending plan kicks in Saturday, with lost welfare benefits for some families and education funding cuts among the repercussions.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder acknowledges there's some short-term pain ahead in the state's new fiscal year, but says the plan puts Michigan on more stable financial footing for the future.
"These are difficult decisions ... (but) we're going to be well positioned for the long term," Snyder told The Associated Press in a phone call during his trade trip to Asia. "We're doing things in a structurally balanced way."
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A stricter four-year, lifetime limit on welfare benefits could kick up to 14,000 families about 41,000 people off cash assistance during the fiscal year. Many would lose the help right away. A lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court seeking to stop the limits from taking effect and a court hearing was set for Tuesday. Michigan also will measure certain financial assets to help determine eligibility for food assistance. People with more than $5,000 in regular savings or checking accounts, for example, will no longer be eligible for food stamps under rules adopted by the Michigan Department of Human Services.
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The Snyder administration wants about $145 million in concessions from state employees as part of the new fiscal year, but they haven't materialized. The concessions target drops to $90 million with the planned closing of Mound Correctional Facility in Detroit and other changes in the state prison system. The Snyder administration also plans to require unionized state workers to take at least four unpaid furlough days in the new fiscal year.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/29358437/detail.html How long before It burns to the ground
It's good to see this people are getting really tired of having .gov give away internet, cell phones, section 8 housing etc.
If you ARE going to have a welfare program let it be government cheese, a barracks room and an issue of work clothes (along with an 8 hour workday fixing infastructure or even picking up trash somewhere.)
