Dillon says lawmakers are close to budget deal
State House Speaker Andy Dillon says legislative leaders are close to a budget deal for the coming fiscal year. He says an agreement could be reached as soon as Thursday, when the lawmakers will meet for a marathon negotiating session with Governor Granholm. Dillon says there are still disagreements over some spending cuts for the coming fiscal year, but he says the bigger problem will be reaching consensus over next year's budget. Dillon says the leaders would like to make a two-year budget deal, but there isn't enough federal stimulus money to plug holes for both fiscal years.