BUDGET DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate met behind closed doors Tuesday, the first day back after a two-week summer break, to discuss setting budget targets for the 2009-10 fiscal year that begins October 1.

No agreement was reached at the meeting, which are expected to continue this week and into the future.

It appears budget chairs are deciding whether to start collaborating on budget cuts before leadership sets targets for those budgets.

The meeting held on Tuesday included legislative leadership from both chambers as well as some members of the two Appropriations Committees. It was not clear whether Governor Jennifer Granholm participated in the talks.

House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) and House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) did not attend session on Tuesday and their spokespeople were unavailable for questions related to the meeting.

On Wednesday the last budget to come out of the House is expected to make its way through committee. The Department of State Police appropriation in SB 253 will not include a restoration of funding for the 100 troopers who were laid off in June, but subcommittee chair Rep. Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) said that is an issue that can be discussed as the budget goes through negotiations between the chambers.

Also on Tuesday the House did not name any budget conference committee members.