Following the failure
to pass a road funding solution on Wednesday, Governor Rick Snyder, House
Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant), House Minority Leader Tim Greimel
(D-Auburn Hills), Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive), and Senate
Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) began discussing new solutions on
Thursday. Talks of a solution have effectively started over as Governor Snyder
opposed the previous House solution, which would create $600 million in new
revenue and cut $600 million from other programs.
According to the
House Republican majority they were nearing enough votes to pass the “600/600
plan” which many had reluctantly come to support as it created $600 million in
new revenue. While the House was gathering votes for this package, Governor
Snyder told Speaker Cotter that he must also solve the Medicaid funding problem
with the “600/600 plan” or he would not support it. This is due to the
Governor’s fear of placing too much pressure on the General Fund (GF) by taking
half the necessary money for road funding out of GF.
Other parties
involved disagree with this analysis of events, stating that House Republicans
had never gotten too close to passing their plan, and Mr. Snyder, Mr. Meekhof,
and the Democratic leaders had an understanding hat $800 million in new revenue
and $300 million in General Fund money would make more sense for the state.
According to this line of thought Mr. Cotter did not subscribe to the 800/300
split and was pushing the already dead 600/600 split.
Whichever analysis is
correct one thing is certain, the road funding plan has stalled and
negotiations are going back to square one. While Governor Snyder is scheduled
to leave the state for a trade mission to China, he stated that Lt. Governor
Brian Calley, who has been present throughout the transportation discussions,
is more than capable of representing the executive branch’s views.