A $57 billion spending plan that boosts base K-12 funding and road construction has been approved by the Michigan Legislature.
The budget, which takes effect in October, also closes a state prison, earmarks $100 million for Gov. Rick Snyder's plan to link students with in-demand jobs, and sets aside money to better secure some schools from shooters.
The House and Senate passed the two main bills Tuesday, on what is expected to be the Republican-led Legislature's last session day before a summer break.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Hildenbrand says spending is down in the general omnibus budget because as the economy grows, social welfare caseloads are declining.
The legislation also includes language that would kill aid for Planned Parenthood, although Gov. Snyder has said that provision may be unconstitutional.
The provision would prohibit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from providing family planning and pregnancy preventions funds to any entity that has a connection to a clinic that performs abortions, unless there is no other alternative in the same county.
Snyder cannot line-item veto boilerplate budget language. But Senate Democrats who voted for the general government spending bill appeared confident the governor will declare the Planned Parenthood provision unenforceable, an approach he has frequently employed in past years.
It is unknown when Snyder will sign the budget bills.
