It’s become a bad habit. When budget negotiations hit a brick wall in Congress, the federal government shuts down. That doesn’t happen here in Michigan —or, at least, it didn’t use to.

But Michigan is now staring down the barrel of its first extended shutdown ever. If the Legislature can’t come together to pass a budget, I fear it could mark the beginning of a new and unfortunate chapter in our politics.

The state budget process is straightforward. Under the Michigan Constitution and the 1984 Management and Budget Act , the governor is supposed to send the Legislature a proposed budget thirty days after the legislative session begins in January. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did her part and submitted a budget more than 200 days ago.

The ball was then in the Michigan Legislature’s court.

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