LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan legislators have only 21 days to pass a budget before the new fiscal year, but signs of progress are hard to find.

The state House of Representatives and Senate have passed respective budgets, but they are different in many ways and billions of dollars apart. There will have to be a lot of conversation to reconcile the differences and it appears that isn’t happening — at least not yet.

"I think what needs to happen is that they need to come together and start having real conversations," Sen. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, is an appropriator and former chair of the House Appropriations Committee, told News 8 Tuesday. "It’s not an easy process, but once you make those big framework, top-level decisions, the pieces can start falling together."

Sen. Sarah Anthony,

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