LANSING -- Update March 18th, 12:05 p.m.
The Associated Press reports Michigan's budge director, John Nixon, knew Gov. Snyder's proposal would spark an outcry. The report says Nixon backs Gov. Snyder's plan to end tax breaks for the working poor and cutting school money.
Update March 17th, 4:05 p.m.
Gov. Snyder’s plan to tax pensions and 401(k) has retirees threatening a recall. According to the Associated Press, retirees are calling for Snyder to cut $1.7 billion in business taxes rather than tax pensions and retirements.
The report says Democrats and Republicans who are against the bill are attempting to come up with an alternative.
Do you think Gov. Rick Snyder should be recalled? Leave us your comments here and on the NBC25 Facebook page.
Update March 17th, 9:50 a.m.
We're now learning that fourteen people were arrested in Lansing Wednesday. In addition to the five who refused to leave the grounds after closing, the Associate Press reports three others were arrested outside the building.
The news outlet also says that several more were taken into custody earlier in the day when they tried to pry open the locked doors to let protestors inside the building.
Around 3,000 people swarmed the capital Wednesday, in a failed attempt to prevent Gov. Rick Snyder from signing the financial manager bill.
Update: March 17th 9:20 a.m.
NBC25’s sister station in Grand Rapids, WOOD TV, reports five people were arrested Wednesday night after protesting at the State Capital.
For two hours after closing time, the group refused to leave the building. The five were arrested.
Thousands of union members storm the steps of the state capital demanding changes to the governor's budget proposal.
They say it's a direct assault against the middle class.
They came out from all over the state, many from MidMichigan.
Picking up their signs and signing up to protest, union retirees came out livid to UAW Local 599 in Flint.
"We worked our {expletive} off for 30 some, 40 some years and now they want to take it away," says UAW Local 599 retiree Becky Pearsall.
Retiree Warren Kimball says, "I can hardly pay my bills in what I make now. Now they want to take income taxes out of me. I'm upset."
Governor Rick Snyder has recommended taxing pensions to help with the state budget.
That's why retirees loaded buses from all over Michigan and headed to Lansing.
Chants of "We have vowed to fight back!" filled the air.
They displayed a sea of signs, standing in solidarity.
Sharon Burnett, a UAW retiree from Flint says, "I have a granddaughter that's in college, and we all worry how she's going to finish her education."
"How are people going to pay their bills and revitalize the economy by lowering their wages? Economically, it makes no sense," says Greg Lobodzinski of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.
The union members say even though they did not vote for Rick Snyder, they say he still has to represent them.
"Something is going to take place. He's going to have to listen to us," says Burnett.
Also attending the rally, Midland's Mackinac Center for Public Policy that says the cuts are necessary.
"Government employee benefits are breaking the state. They are $5.7 billion out of line with what you have in the private sector. Either we address the collecting-bargaining process or the state goes broke," says Paul Kersey, Labor Policy Director of the Mackinac Center.
Union supporters say, they will not go without a fight.
"We're here, and we're not going away," says Lobodzinski.
Governor Rick Snyder says his budget proposal shares and spreads the sacrifice among all groups.
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