Workers rally for roads deal as lawmakers point fingers at each other

Lansing — Hundreds of road construction workers rallied Wednesday outside the Michigan Capitol, where they called on lawmakers to approve a long-term plan to fund improvements to the state's roads and bridges.

However, minutes after the event on the Capitol lawn concluded, the leaders of the House and Senate convened behind closed doors for a meeting that appeared to produce little progress toward a compromise on the next budget. The Legislature has 28 more days, until Oct. 1 , to OK a budget and avoid a government shutdown.