Michigan lawmakers pass continuation budget
Michigan lawmakers have passed a short-term continuation budget to prevent a statewide government shutdown, providing funding for one week while they finalize the full state budget. This temporary measure allows the Michigan House and Senate to complete negotiations on a comprehensive budget deal. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D),and House Speaker Matt Hall (R) jointly assured that a complete budget would be approved within the week. The two chambers,controlled by opposing parties,had previously passed separate budgets but were in a weeks-long stalemate. Recently, leaders announced they reached an agreement on a budget framework that combines key priorities from both parties, including provisions for school aid and long-term road funding. Despite the delay, they emphasized maintaining government services and clarity in budget spending. michigan remains the only state without a fully approved budget for the next fiscal year.
Michigan lawmakers pass continuation budget while final state budget is ironed out
Michigan lawmakers passed a short-term continuation budget early Wednesday to avert a statewide government shutdown.
The continuing budget will fund the state government for one week, giving lawmakers that long to finalize a budget deal between the Michigan House and Senate. A joint statement by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, a Democrat, and state Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican, said the legislature will pass a full budget “this week.”
“Both chambers have adopted greater transparency measures to protect taxpayer dollars in the budget and committed to a negotiated permanent transparency law change,” the statement said.
The leaders noted they only needed to draft the bills for the budget and put them through a legal review.
The Democratic-controlled state Senate and the Republican-controlled state House had each passed their own budgets, but negotiations between the chambers had been at a stalemate for weeks. Last week, state leaders said they had come to an agreement on a budget “framework” ahead of the Oct. 1 budget deadline.
But details of that agreement were publicly sparse. It was said to combine the top priorities of Democrats and Republicans and would include a school aid measure, which might include free school meals, and a long-term road funding deal.
“We do have a budget agreement. We’ll get the bill written, and we will vote it out as soon as possible, after it’s ready,” Brinks told reporters after the vote.
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“I certainly wish that we weren’t here at this moment tonight, but I think the important thing to remember is that we were able to come to an agreement, even in a time like this, with divided government,” Brinks said. “We will be keeping government services open. The people in Michigan can still get what they need from their government for the next week, despite this minor delay.”
Michigan remains the last state without a full budget approved ahead of the next fiscal year.
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