LEGISLATURE CUTS BUDGET: House Republicans: "We must all make concessions to move state forward."

The House Republican caucus unanimously voted today to approve a 4-percent cut to the Legislative and Judiciary budgets.

House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer said the move was agreed upon in conjunction with the governor's executive order enacted this week to address the $1.3 billion budget deficit for the current fiscal year.

"As we ask Michigan residents to make sacrifices, we too must do our part," said Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin. "These cuts are a piece of the puzzle as we work to address the current budget crisis and the coming one. As we move forward, this is a step toward fiscal responsibility and smaller government, but there is more work to be done."

As lawmakers work to address the growing budget deficit, House Republicans brought more than $500 million of specific, cost-saving measures and government reforms to the negotiating table in an attempt to halt use of stimulus dollars. Republicans also previously called for a five-percent across-the-board reduction in state spending and freezing salaries to protect critical government services such as public safety.

"We cannot do the things necessary to move our state forward if we don’t get our own budget in order soon," Elsenheimer said. "Using the stimulus dollars to fill a budget hole does not address Michigan's most crucial needs - job creation and economic development. Our caucus will continue to look for ways to address the budget crisis while preserving stimulus dollars for economic stimulus, not government protection."