Brief shutdown of Michigan government ends

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Michigan lawmakers ended a brief shutdown of state government early Thursday and moved ahead with proposed deep budget cuts, legislators said.

The state House and Senate approved a temporary 30-day continuation budget that allows the state to keep paying its governmental and public school bills, ending a two-hour technical shutdown that came about when the midnight deadline was missed.

The legislature also passed most of the 2010 fiscal year budget that includes many deep cuts in an effort to slice $1.3 billion from a spending plan that is $2.8 billion in the red, The Detroit News said.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the temporary budget into law at 2 a.m., then turned her attention to the pile of fiscal budget bills. The fiscal year began Thursday.

The House is expected to consider tax increases, perhaps as soon as Thursday, to find money for college scholarships, local police and fire and other programs, Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, said.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said the upper chamber has accomplished its goal of not raising taxes and he does not believe the House will pass an increase either.