When the standard legislative work week begins tomorrow morning, some in the Michigan House of Representatives will be observing a solemn milestone.  March 10th will mark the 40th consecutive day without action in the Democratic chamber since an overwhelmingly bi-partisan majority of the Michigan State Senate (one-third of the Democrats joined every Republican) came together to approve a spending-free stimulus plan to return $1.235 billion to local businesses... Michigan companies creating Michigan jobs.

Senate Bill 1 repeals the hated, job-killing MBT surcharge, not only stimulating the economy with a massive infusion of desperately needed capital, but sends an even more desperately needed signal to the business community that Michigan is finally ready to make some tough decisions and to step out of the economic dark ages.

The Democrat controlled House and Speaker Andy Dillon specifically, haven't bothered to even give the bill a hearing on the House floor.

Now in the Bible, 40 days was enough to accomplish a lot.  Moses spent 40 days with God on a mountain after leading the people out of Egypt.  Once he ended his stay he carried down with him the Ten Commandments, the most influential legal "documents" in history.

Goliath taunted the army of Israel for 40 days before David went out and hit him with a rock, beginning the career and public life of ancient Israel's greatest king.

Jesus fasted for 40 days before being tempted by Satan and after those 40 days effectively told the Devil where he could go.

After being crucified and rising from the dead He even appeared on the earth for, you guessed it, 40 more days.  At the end of the 40 days, with everyone watching, He ascended into heaven.

Perhaps most famously, though, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights while Noah and his family waited in their giant boat.  40 days was all it took for one doozy of a celestial rain storm to destroy every other human being on the planet.  

Now we're not talking about the whole of humanity here... we're only talking about a thousand jobs here and another thousand there.  But the House has the opportunity to join their Democratic colleagues in the Senate to make a real, significant and powerful economic change in Michigan.  Thus far they've done nothing but sit by and watch the rain hit the window.

Forty days.   And the question isn't how soon will they give common sense, bipartisan legislation a hearing and a vote... it remains, how long will they continue to ignore the devastating economic reality gripping their own constituents?