County sheriffs, small schools, local governments and other groups grappling with state funding cuts may have to wait several more weeks for Michigan leaders to resolve an ongoing budget dispute.
Lee Chatfield
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Republicans say ‘the budget is done.’ Here’s what they really mean.
For weeks, GOP leaders have said the state budget is in place, even though $1 billion of their priorities were cut and negotiations continue with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. At the core of the standoff is broken trust and the GOP’s insistence on capping how much money the governor can shift from department budgets.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan has $1B left over from budget. What happens to all that money?
Now that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has gone on a line-item veto spree, some $947 million in taxpayer money is unspent. Time is running out, but Whitmer says ‘all is not lost’ and there’s still an opportunity to salvage programs.
Posted inTalent & Education
Dems break with Whitmer, pass small funding increase for Michigan schools
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is left out of negotiations as legislators boost budget for state $15.2 billion. The budget doubles the number of literacy coaches, but critics say the funding isn’t enough to improve test scores.
Posted inMichigan Government
What to expect from the Michigan Legislature this fall
State lawmakers are back in Lansing Tuesday. Here are some of the major priorities the Legislature expects to tackle before the end of the year.
Posted inMichigan Government
From pastor’s son to power broker, Lee Chatfield takes Lansing
The youngest Michigan Speaker in a century, Chatfield says humility gained through reading Scripture has helped him navigate the political minefields of divided government. The biggest test of his leadership skills is still to come.
Posted inMichigan Government
Pressure builds on Michigan Republicans to share their road funding plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has her own hurdles selling a gas tax hike. But as she notes, Republican leaders have yet to show how they would raise the more than $2 billion needed for roads as the Legislature breaks for summer recess.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Current, former Republican Speakers seek Michigan jail reform
Incarceration rates are down and our neighborhoods are safer. But there’s still more work to be done on criminal justice reform, say three leading Republicans.
Posted inMichigan Government
Five months in, the precarious state of bipartisanship in Lansing
Michigan’s new Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders promised bipartisan collaboration this year as divided government replaced eight years of Republican rule. Despite skirmishes, the two sides are still talking.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Republicans’ 2019 to do’s: roads and auto insurance
Fixing the roads and reforming Michigan’s expensive no-fault auto insurance are issues that both major parties say they want to fix. Republicans say they are willing to work with new Democractic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.