LANSING, Mich.–– Senate Democrats opposed a Senate Republican scheme late tonight that made drastic cuts to education while providing no comprehensive, long-term budget solution. The Republicans also attempted to take away tax breaks for struggling Michigan workers to fund another break for businesses instead of restoring the extreme, dangerous cuts they have made to education, public safety, and health care.

“Republicans continue to push their ‘my way or the highway’ proposals that create more problems than they fix. They’re adding insult to injury by slashing critical services for struggling families, then taking away the modest tax breaks we’ve promised them,” said Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming). “We’ve presented a true compromise approach that includes tough spending reductions, real reforms, and avoids extreme cuts to public safety, education and health care. Those ideas at least deserve a serious debate.”

Senate Democrats support directing any new revenue generated to avoid dangerous cuts that were enacted recently to budgets that would take cops off the streets, force nursing home closures and rob students of scholarships. Senate Republicans have opposed these efforts, instead favoring a large business tax cut to an already unbalanced budget. Republicans also voted to stop tax credits for Michigan workers and their families that they were expecting.

“We’re willing to look at comprehensive, long-term tax changes to fix the structural problem we have, but they shouldn’t be done in the middle of the night with no serious debate,” said Senate Democratic Floor Leader Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit). “Senate Republicans’ misguided priorities leave families who have been hit hardest by this economic crisis and these extreme budget cuts out to dry.”

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