Yes, the MEA will howl.  Teachers will get laid off.  Some welfare recipients may lose some health care benefits, or have to pay more for them.  Join the club.  (Those of us who are older than dirt will remember when no one had health insurance). People will go on with their lives, looking for jobs or looking for a way to get out of this state.  What the Governor has chosen to ignore (kinda like those budget overruns last year)is that her popularity rating is below that of the Democrat's version of Methusela, President Bush.  An overwhelming number of Michiganders (or should I say WEchiganders) oppose a tax hike.  On June 1, the working stiffs in this state will say:  "So what.  I've had my income cut.  I've had to dial back my spending and live within my means. It is time for the state to do the same."   People won't die.  Schools won't implode.  The poor won't starve. If there is no budget agreement this weekend, nothing will happen June 1.  June 8th? Now that is a different story.