Oh, and did I mention that Granholm's giant expenditure will send millions of dollars to a high-dollar campaign contributor?  Not that there's anything wrong with that if you're an adherent to Democrat "ethics."

We've covered the story for just about the entire calendar year and you can check out a few of our previous stories here and here.

So here's where we stand today.  Construction on the new building, which will replace the current digs on campus at MSU, is currently expected to begin in November.   Jones and Brown issued a joint statement late yesterday reading, in part:

It is particularly egregious that ground is being broken on this luxurious new building while just down the road at the Capitol we are struggling to find the money necessary to avoid laying off troopers, said Brown.  It is time to put a stop to this ill-advised project once and for all on behalf of taxpayers and our men and women who wear the state police uniform.

I have been contacted by state police from across Michigan asking me to stop this wasteful spending and poorly located new headquarters, said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. Having served in law enforcement for more than 30 years, I am appalled that the state is sending a message that it values a luxurious new building more than putting police officers on the streets.

The legislation sponsored by Brown and Jones would delay construction of the new headquarters until the state's Budget Stabilization Fund contains at least $1 billion for two consecutive fiscal years, effectively killing the project for, oh, the forever at this point.  

The site was not competitively bid, and its limited size on the banks of the Grand River will not allow for the staging area, warehouse facilities, or helicopter pad the MSP uses at its current headquarters. The building will also be unable to accommodate the state's Emergency Operations Center or the Fusion Center.  All in all, a pretty raw deal for state police troopers and taxpayers and one that desperately needs to be stopped.  Unless you're a Granholm donor... then you really want the thing to move forward.

With the legislation introduced it becomes a waiting game and a matter of process.  Mike Bishop and Andy Dillon should fast track it yesterday.  Heck, it might even help them balance the budget in future years (hint hint, Mr. Speaker).