Michigan Legislature Passes Budget After Missing Key Deadlines
In a late-night session, the Michigan Legislature approved a bipartisan budget for the new fiscal year, finally reaching an agreement two days past the constitutional deadline. Despite missing both the initial July 1 deadline and the October 1 constitutional requirement, lawmakers managed to avoid a government shutdown.
Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) captured the urgency of the moment with a succinct invocation, “Dear God, help us pass this budget. Amen.” Her words set the tone for the session, which was marked by last-minute negotiations and frustrations from various sectors.
School districts, public universities, and community colleges faced uncertainty as they awaited the budget’s approval, unable to adjust their fiscal calendars like the state did. Robert McCann from the K-12 Alliance of Michigan expressed the sentiment of many, stating, “To be clear, Michigan’s schools have been harmed throughout every step of this unnecessary, Lansing-made crisis.”
Negotiations were notably tense, with House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) adopting a hardline stance. Hall defended the delay, asserting, “I think this budget is really about value for the dollars, whether it passed before or after.” His approach resulted in increased transparency measures, including public notice of legislator-requested earmarks, partly in response to a Detroit News report on questionable state grant expenditures.
Senator Anthony and Governor Whitmer both emphasized the need to improve the process in future years. Whitmer expressed hope for earlier negotiations next year, saying, “Now, I hope we don’t ever repeat this. We should try to make sure that next year we get this done earlier.”
A new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana emerged as one of the budget’s contentious points, with potential constitutional challenges looming. The tax aims to raise road funding but may face obstacles due to Michigan’s supermajority requirement for changes to voter-approved laws.
As the budget awaits Governor Whitmer’s signature, discussions around its implementation and potential line-item vetoes are ongoing. The budget reflects a mix of compromises, with notable funding increases for roads and education. Amid the legislative drama, some lawmakers and staff found a moment of distraction as Taylor Swift’s new album was released at midnight, providing a brief respite from the budgetary tensions.
—
Read More Michigan News
