By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-865362.mp3
LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm and state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop are scheduled to meet Wednesday in an effort to end a budget standoff.
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The Senate Republican leader is refusing to send the Democratic governor half a dozen budget bills that are waiting on her signature. He says that's because she's threatening to veto major portions of the budgets to free enough money to restore cuts to college scholarships, Medicaid, and local governments.
But Bishop says he wants to avoid a public drama, and he says the budget will be finished before a temporary budget expires at the end of the month.
"I'm not going to duplicate high noon," he says. "I have no interest in being John Wayne or any wild west character."
Bishop still hopes to convince the governor to accept the Legislature's budget cuts. But the governor says he will have to compromise, or face her vetoes.