2014 MI Senate debate: on Budget & Economy

Mike Bishop: Stop out-of-control spending policies

Bishop: Strongly Agree. It's time to stop the out-of-control spending policies in Washington, D.C. and halt government expansion. I believe we first need to curb spending and begin paying down our debt, in order to lead America on a path toward prosperity.

Terri Lynn Land: Opposed reopening government, due to ObamaCare, not jobs

The State Democratic Party Chairman said Land's stance on jobless benefits "doesn't pass the smell test" because she opposed the deal reopening the government, while Land said Democrats were the reason the benefits were not part of a December budget deal.

Michigan's two Democratic senators, Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin voted to move forward on the 3-month extension legislation. While Republicans plan to seek changes so the bill's $6.4 billion cost would not add to deficits, a Land spokeswoman said Land would have supported an extension regardless of whether the cost is paid.

Terri Lynn Land: Opposed deal to re-open federal government

But she has also become the GOP's presumed nominee, and McConnell is hosting a fundraiser [for Land] along with 16 GOP candidates.

Land still believes voting to reopen the government was a mistake. But her campaign declined to say McConnell made a mistake by supporting the deal. "She's not going to get involved in any disagreement there," a spokesperson said. "She's working very hard to unite factions of the party so she can win a contested election in a purple state."

Terri Lynn Land: Federal shutdown was opportunity to address spending

Land said she opposed the shutdown, but the budget process in Washington is "broken."