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Unproductive lame duck session expected

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-933520.mp3

LANSING, MI –
The state Senate plans to meet five more times before it adjourns for the year. That could spell a quiet lame-duck session at the state Capitol.

AUDIO:
Between breaks for hunting season and Thanksgiving, there aren't many session days left on the calendar for the Senate. Republican leaders say the workload will be light before they adjourn for the year and hand-off many controversial issues to the next Legislature and administration.

Budget Director Bob Emerson says that plan isn't surprising.

"I think everybody had pretty realistic expectations before the election as to whether or not anything would get done in this lame-duck session,"

Emerson says Governor Granholm had hoped to reach a deal on a second bridge span between Detroit and Canada, and to approve funds for the Pure Michigan ad campaign before she leaves office. But Senate Republicans say neither is on their agenda for the rest of the year.

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