So, I haven’t talked about this too much, but we’re getting closer to Michigan shutting down portions of the government. Gov. Granholm says it might start this Friday.
The idea makes me all giddy, quite frankly. Government gets too big, spends too much money, and poof it just goes away for a while. That’ll teach ‘em a lesson, right?
Granholm said non-essential services will stop if a new budget is not in place. Among those services are state-licensed casino gaming in Detroit, sale of lottery tickets, distribution of packaged liquor, state parks, and welcome centers.
Emphasis mine, obviously.
The state regulates liquor sales as well and once inventories are sold, customers won’t be able to buy any more. Beer and wine won’t be impacted.
Soo… if you’re one that enjoys themselves a little liquor, you might want to stock up for a month’s worth before close of business on Friday.
I wonder: Michigan recently deregulated the price of liquor. They used to control it but now they only dictate minimums. I wonder how long it would be before they started kicking up prices in response to constant demand but a limited supply?
I assume they mean that they are going to prohibit state-licensed casino gaming in Detroit due to the lack of government “oversight”. For all I know (living in Arizona) the State of Michigan runs a casino in Detroit.
Yeah, the Indian casinos can keep running, but whatever ones are run by Michigan (and I have no idea which ones are) will be shut down.
If they are “non-essential “, why not just eliminate them and balance your budget that way?
Oh Yeah, that is just the way it works for the private sector and the common man.
I keep forgetting “the government” is above the laws of economics
Dennis
Yes it would be bad to not be able to have a stiff drink, I agree.
But when the talk about cutting costs for Police, Health ,and Fire Department services It has to spread a much higher level of fear. The http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/ site read as the “countdown to chaos”
Is this trying to get results by fear? Or a much more serious issue than liquor and gambling?
I have very little trust for state leaders at the moment.
http://www.countdowntochaos.org/ ? good lord! is this sh*t this necessary?
Maybe it is time for a stiff drink…
First, latest news is a judge ruled the casinos don’t have to shut down. One of the things on the Governor’s list to be shut down if there’s no budget solution is the Casino Gaming Oversight Board. And the casinos in question are the 3 private ventures in Detroit.
Next, this whole $1.75 billion budget gap debacle is the result of inept, spineless windbags in Lansing wasting the last 7+ months with pointless partisan posturing. Developing a balanced budget is the only thing the legislature really has to do and they blew it. As far as I’m concerned, Michigan voters need to dump them all at the next election.
A lot of people, including 35,000 state workers, will be affected by the shutdown. To them, this is not a good thing. And the larger impact is the effect it might have on future businesses when deciding to locate in Michigan or elsewhere.
Oh, and once the casinos run out of liquor, will anyone still want to gamble?
Great Idea! Maybe the rest of the rest of the country will take notice and realise what a economic mess the Bush administration has put us in. Lay of the president not another automaker.