Mich. Senate passes temporary budgets for schools, other state agencies

 
LANSING — The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate pushed through temporary budgets on Friday morning as a way to prevent a state shutdown in Oct. 1. But Senate Democrats opposed the move saying the temporary budgets instituted “massive cuts.”

Both bills passed the chamber on a 21-to-6 vote.

Democrats were frustrated with the cuts passed in the bills, but also attacked Republicans for not scheduling sessions over the weekend, when GOP lawmakers head to Mackinac Island for their annual policy conference.

During the debate on the temporary budget bill for multiple state agencies, Democrats attacked the Republicans.

“I encourage us to stay here instead of flitting off to Mackinac Island to play politics and party,” said the Senate’s Democratic leader, Ipsheming Democrat Mike Prusi.

“This is a get-out-of-Dodge-free bill,” said Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, an East Lansing Democrat.

“We just saw the members who are willing to shut down government in the case of an impasse,” said Sen. Ron Jelinek, a Republican from Three Oaks who chairs the Appropriations Committee.

But it was the debate on the temporary budget for schools that set off fireworks on both sides of the aisle. That budget cuts $218 out of each per pupil reimbursement, and cuts intermediate school district funding four percent.

“A cut of $218 will be a death sentence,” said Democratic Sen. Martha Scott of Highland Park.

“You have a choice — have a back up plan,” said Sen. Alan Cropsey, a Republican from DeWitt who is the Senate Majority Floor Leader, “or take a flipping leap and shut down government.”

Ann Arbor Democrat Liz Brater called the temporary budgets, and the cuts they contained, “self-inflicted wounds.” She noted that Democrats had plans for revenue, but Republicans have been unwilling to negotiate.

“It is totally irresponsible to put this budget up,” said Brater, “then take off for weekend when we should be working.”

Brater went a step further: “It is like putting a gun to the head of the public education system.”

Republicans balked at the claim the Senate should stay in session to get the budget done by the Oct. 1 deadline.

“I’m doing the best I can,” said Sen. Mark Jansen, a Republican from Grand Rapids. “I’m following the law.”

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop went after Democrats for mentioning the Republicans’ conference.

“It’s opportunistic and political and we all know it,” said Bishop, a Republican from Rochester. He argued the Republicans had passed a budget in June but it had not been acted on by the House.

“Get the House to vote on it. Get your governor to lead. And pass it. Until then quit the rhetoric,” Bishop said.

Prusi said while the Republicans had indeed passed a budget in June, that budget was crafted without input from Democrats. He then noted that the Senate had met only 16 days out of the previous 90 days in which Democrats and Republicans could have worked to find an equitable solution.