KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

Associated Press Writer
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Economists: Mich. will keep losing jobs in 2010

Michigan's economy will improve in 2010, but only in comparison to what has been "one of the most brutal years in a generation," University of Michigan economists said Friday.

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GM gets tax break to stay in Detroit headquarters

General Motors Co. is promising to keep its headquarters in Detroit in return for expanded state tax credits approved Tuesday.

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Mich. gov candidates call for new budget methods

GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder said that Michigan needs to lay out its budget for two years at a time and ask citizens what programs they support.

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Group urges raising more money to fix Mich. roads

One-third of Michigan roads were in poor condition in 2008, a percentage that could climb dramatically in coming years if lawmakers don't pump more money into transportation, road advocates said Monday.

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Mich. House taps 2010 stimulus funding for schools

The Michigan House voted to tap federal stimulus money set aside for next year to soften a cut in school funding now, but it's unlikely the move is going to win the support of the state Senate.

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Mich. looks at worst-case 20 percent budget cuts

Michigan's governor warned Tuesday of a possible 20 percent cut in state spending next year, a draconian step after billions in cuts since 2003 have already dented police and fire services, pushed schools toward insolvency and reduced oversight of prison inmates.

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Mich. gov. finishes signing budget before deadline

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the budget she finished signing into law Friday will hurt the state's efforts to recover from the economic downturn.

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Mich. gov, GOP leader still far apart on revenue

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm remains optimistic that some Senate Republicans will support more money for schools, but GOP Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said Tuesday he won't alter the Senate's only proposal for raising some extra cash.

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Mich. gov meets with school officials over cuts

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday she hasn't decided where she'll make cuts in the six remaining budget bills on her desk.

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Michigan Senate sends 6 budget bills to governor

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop sent the final six budget bills Tuesday to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but he warned her not to expect any additional money for programs she wants to restore.

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Mich. public sector jobs dropping in poor economy

The number of public employees in the state has been dropping since mid-2005 as the poor economy has forced school districts and governments to trim staff, adding to the state's already high unemployment rate, according to a new report released Monday.

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Talks lead to little progress in MI budget impasse

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said Wednesday they don't expect another government shutdown over the budget, but they didn't seem close to agreeing on anything else.

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Mich. jobless rate up to 15.3 percent in Sept.

Michigan's unemployment rate, which was the nation's highest at 15.2 percent in August, crept up to 15.3 percent in September, state officials said Wednesday.

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Mich. gov. may veto some programs to keep others

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Monday she may take money from programs she doesn't like to pay for college scholarships and local police and fire protection.

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Brief Michigan shutdown ends, interim budget OK'd

One of the nation's most economically battered states is heading into more fiscal fights after surviving a short-lived government shutdown that ended with an interim budget and lingering uncertainty about more permanent spending cuts.

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Mich. stares down 2nd govt. shutdown in 3 years

Economically beleaguered Michigan faces a possible government shutdown — shuttering highway rest areas, state parks, construction projects and the state lottery — if lawmakers fail to reach a budget deal in the next few days.

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Michigan budget debate escalates as deadline nears

House Speaker Andy Dillon said Wednesday that Democrats who control the Michigan House could start passing revised budget bills next week for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

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Former Mich. Congressman Carl Pursell dies at 76

Former U.S. Rep. Carl Pursell, who served in the U.S. House for 16 years and later became an Eastern Michigan University trustee, died Thursday. He was 76.

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Cabinet officials head to hard-hit auto states

Officials in four Midwestern states badly hurt by the auto industry's woes are lining up to ask the Cabinet secretaries crisscrossing the region for a better deal when it comes to getting funds from the federal recovery act.

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Chrysler bankruptcy raises questions for workers

Fears that a Chrysler LLC bankruptcy could devastate southeast Michigan and harm Chrysler workers and retirees nationwide were abating somewhat as details of the deal were released Thursday.

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Guardsman brings Iraqi boy to Mich. for surgery

Eleven-year-old Mohammed didn't speak much English, but Army Maj. David Howell had no trouble understanding the badly burned Iraqi boy's request last November to take him to America.

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1st White House health forum kicks off in Michigan

The White House on Thursday kicked off a series of regional health forums in Michigan by emphasizing that reforming health care is yet another way to help the nation's struggling economy.

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Governors sip Michigan ice wine at White House

The sauvignon blanc was from California, the pinot noir from Oregon.

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Mich. governor perseveres through 2008 setbacks

In some ways, 2008 was the toughest year in office Gov. Jennifer Granholm has faced since her election six years ago.

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Mich. governor a fierce advocate for auto industry

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has differed in the past with U.S. automakers, squabbling with the United Auto Workers union over party politics and wishing out loud that Michigan's fortunes weren't so tied to the ailing industry.

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