In an unexpected turn of events, the Michigan Senate has taken steps to reinstate significant funding that was recently slashed by the House Appropriations Committee. The Senate’s decision comes after widespread criticism of the committee’s abrupt budget cuts, which impacted various nonprofits and community projects.
The move to restore funding comes after the committee had halted $645 million from being carried over from the previous state budget using a rarely applied law that bypassed both the Senate and the governor. This decision affected “work projects” that span multiple years, causing concern among affected groups.
During a recent hearing, representatives from these organizations shared the challenges they face due to the funding cuts. Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner reported that the district’s plans for a new high school track remain incomplete, lacking essentials like facilities for the shot put and concession stands. “We don’t have the shot put… We don’t have the concession stands. We don’t have the bathrooms,” Shuldiner explained.
Dr. Mona Hanna, representing Rx Kids, highlighted the impact on their program designed to assist pregnant women and new mothers. Despite receiving over $250 million in the latest state budget, the program’s expansion is now on hold due to funding uncertainties. “Six thousand less babies will not benefit from this program. And those are babies who’ll miss out on life-changing support,” Hanna noted.
Jazmine Danci from the Downriver Community Conference described their struggle with ongoing renovations, stating, “We don’t know what we’re going to do. We don’t have heat on two of the three floors.”
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) emphasized the importance of restoring funding, stating, “It’s incredibly important that we make those people whole, and that we can help restore the trust that they should be able to have when the state makes a promise that they get certain funding to do certain things for the public good.”
Amidst criticism from both sides, Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) labeled the House’s decision as “a bad fiscal policy and terrible governance.” Jon Bumstead (R-Muskegon), the minority vice chair, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to uphold the commitments made in the budget, saying, “When I signed that, I represent our caucus and our leadership. And, to me, a person is only as good as their word.”
The restoration bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp) has criticized the Senate’s actions and defended the committee’s initial cuts as necessary in light of budget constraints. “These cuts are coming eventually, whether it’s now or next year when you get the revenue estimating, and we’re going to have to make a lot of cuts,” Hall stated during a press conference.
Although Hall suggested some items could be reconsidered in future spending bills, he accused Senate Democrats of being overly reliant on “pork and their secret slush funds.” Meanwhile, the state’s Department of Technology, Management, and Budget has provided extensive documentation to Hall to inform the decision-making process.
With ongoing debates over the legality of the law used to block the spending, Senate Democrats have sought an opinion from the state attorney general. The issue may eventually be contested in court, highlighting the deep divisions and complexities in Michigan’s budgetary processes.
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