LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan House of Representatives has approved an omnibus budget bill but not without a fair share of controversy. The $37.8-billion dollar spending plan was deemed “responsible” by House Appropriations chair Al Pscholka, because it pays down debt and puts some money into the ‘rainy day fund”.
Democrats slammed the bill for cutting funds for Detroit, Healthy Michigan and for not trying to block the Senate’s new office space. Kalamazoo Democrat Jon Hoadley sits on the Appropriations Committee and he says there was no time to read last minute amendments that were passed without a roll call. The budget bill was passed on second reading and then quickly on a third and final reading so there was no chance to consider late additions.
In the end it only passed 59 to 51 with all Democrats and some Republicans voting no.
The Michigan Senate is working on their own version, so it’s not a done deal.
