He said, she said: Govenor, GOP leaders fail to reach middle ground on roads, budget

LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - The governor tells reporters that she has had a couple of meetings with the two GOP leaders but she claims, they have yet to give her a real plan to fix the roads. But the senate GOP leader counters -- the Republicans have given her plenty of plans to consider. Is there a real GOP plan? It's a classic he said-she said situation.

"Thus far we have seen nothing of that sort. And I think that's the problem," sai Gov. Whitmer.

"So far after four different proposals, provided by the legislature to her, all we have gotten from her on those is unacceptable. No negotiations, no retort, no offers for changes," said State Sen. Mike Shirkey.

So the senator argues she's the one not negotiating, to which she retorts:

"In order to have a legitimate negotiation, you gotta come to the table worth talking about," Whitmer said.

The governor explains she wants some real alternatives to her plan to raise the gas tax 45 cents. Shirkey contends they put a lower gas tax hike figure on her plate, and the governor denies it. Yet another he said-she said.

"We have had very short conversations about the Mspers idea that they had," Whitmer said. "Have they put on the table a gas tax hike? No, not in any significant way, no."

"Yes Tim, the gas tax was part of that contemplation," Shirkey said.

The Senate GOP leader and House GOP Speaker and the governor all say they will continue to talk about roads and the budget and while she talks about a possible government shutdown, the Republicans disagree on that too.

"What I think is wrong is to hold the budget hostage because we are unwilling to tax every driver 45 cents. I'm asking the governor to meet us in the middle," said State Rep. Lee Chatfield.

The middle ground has not been reached yet.