The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, September 9. 2009 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS East Lansing, Mich. Granholm outlines plans for balancing Mich. budget Gov. Jennifer Granholm said yesterday she wants to balance the upcoming budget by cutting about half the $1.2 billion Senate Repub- licans have suggested while rais- ing about $550 million in expanded taxes and fees. Many of the ideas had been men- tioned previously but yesterday was the first time the Democratic gover- nor issued a written copy of her pro- posal. She said her plan has been on the table since Aug. 6 and includes phasing out an unpopular business tax surcharge over three years. The Republican-controlled Senate fin- ished passing its own budget-balanc- ing plan in June. But Democrats who control the House still are discussing how they want to tackle a $1.8 billion shortfall in the state general fund and a $900 million gap in the school aid fund in the budget year that starts Oct. 1. Granholm said no one wants a repeat of the 2007 state government shutdown. She spoke with reporters afterthe grand openingof a new IBM center at Michigan State University. Washington D.C. Dem leader wants 'successful' plan for Afghanistan The Obama administration faced growing skepticism from Congress yesterday over the prospect of more U.S. troops in Afghanistan as White House officials intensified an inter- nal debate over any new buildup. Back from a month in their home districts, House and Senate lawmak- erssaid theywanted tosee strongevi- dence from the administration and military officials that ordering thou- sands more troops to the war-torn nation would dislodge insurgents from safe havens in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. "We'll want to see a plan, a plan that members conclude can be suc- cessful," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters. Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee,said it's far from clear that the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan can succeed, "despite the enormous bravery of our troops and talent of military leaders." Rochester, Mich. Oakland U. asks judge to order profs back to work Oakland University has asked a judge to order striking professors back to work as classes remain can- celed at the suburban Detroit univer- sity. A hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT today before Oakland County Circuit Judge Edward Sos- nick on the university's complaint that the strike is illegal. The campus chapter of the Ameri- can Association of University Pro- fessors authorized a walkout Sept. 2 after the university proposed a three-year wage freeze along with cuts in health-insurance benefits. The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press report progress has been made in talks but negotiations broke off early yesterday without an agree- ment. About 18,000 students attend the public four-year school in Rochester. Tehran, Iran Iran raids raise pressure on top opposition leaders Iranian security forces yesterday cracked down on the opposition's campaign to highlight torture and abuse of prisoners in the country's postelection crisis, shutting down offices of pro-reform leaders and arresting five of their aides in a startling series of raids. The raids hiked up the pressure against the top opposition leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, who hard-line clerics and commanders of the powerful Revolutionary Guards have said should also be arrested. The arrests suggested that authorities aim to crush the cam- paign led by Mousavi and Karroubi to bring to light alleged torture and rapes of protesters who were detained in the heavy crackdown against the opposition that fol- lowed the disputed June presiden- tial election. - Compiled from Daily wire reports Fines proposed for not buying health insurance Sen. Baucus says he can no longer support public option WASHINGTON (AP) - Ameri- cans would be fined up to $3,800 for failing to buy health insur- ance under a plan that circulated in Congress yesterday as divisions among Democrats undercut Presi- dent Barack Obama's effort to regain traction on his health care overhaul. As Obama talked strategy with Democratic leaders at the White House, the one idea that most appeals to his party's liberal base lost ground in Congress. Pros- pects for a government-run plan to compete with private insur- ers sank as a leading moderate Democrat, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, said he could no longer support the idea. The fast-moving developments put Obama in a box. As a candi- date, he opposed fines to force individuals to buy health insur- ance, and he supported setting up a public insurance plan.Yesterday, fellow Democrats publicly begged to differ on both ideas. Democratic congressional lead- ers put on a bold front as they left the White House after their meet- ing with the president. "We're re-energized; we're ready to do health care reform," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. House SpeakertNancy Pelosi, D-Calif., insisted the public plan is still politically viable. "I believe thatapublicoptionwillbeessential to our passing a bill in the House of Representatives," she said. After a month of contentious forums, Americans were seeking specifics from the president in his speech to a joint session of Con- gress tonight. So were his fellow Democrats, divided on how best to solve the problem ofthe nation's nearly 50 million uninsured. The latest proposal: a ten-year, $900-billion bipartisan compro- mise that Baucus, who heads the influential Finance Committee, was trying to broker. It would guarantee coverage for nearly all Americans, regardless of medical problems. But the Baucus plan also includes the fines that Obama has rejected. In what appeared to be a sign of tension, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs point- edly noted that the administration had not received a copy ofthe plan before it leaked to lobbyists and news media yesterday. The Baucus plan would require insurers to take all applicants, regardless of age or health. But smokers could be charged higher premiums.And60-year-oldscould be charged five times as much for a policy as 20-year-olds. Baucus said Tuesday he's try- ing to get agreement from a small group of bipartisan negotiators in advance of Obama's speech. New Michigan/USA Resident? We help new residents file taxes. Boost Motorola Clutch' 1465 $50/mo. unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web and walkie-talkie! 17-4429 free tax planning consultation Renaissance Financial Group 320 N. Main, #104, Ann Arbor . ph. 734-994-1288 www.refinancial.Com San)isIk 8GB USB Flash Drive 25-1110 Pf1 O C .AUVIC p.,t1s s-0. 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