Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a spending bill worth more than $28 million. The money will be distributed to a variety of areas. That includes funding for implementing parts of the new Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water. The three million dollars for the Lead and Copper Rule will be used for things like water filters and drinking water investigations in homes.
The money is also being used for the Double Up Food Bucks program and the state’s Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation fund. The state Attorney General’s office will also get some money to help with a major statewide investigation. Attorney General Dana Nessel has been looking into every Catholic Diocese in the state for potential physical and sexual abuse by clergy. So far, the office has charged five current and former priests.
Now, the office will get an additional $653,000 to use for that work.
“The clergy abuse investigation touches every corner of the state, and we are the voice of the victims, and are working hard to ensure that when they report tips to us that we thoroughly investigate them,” said Nessel spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney.
The full spending plan for the 2019 to 2020 spending year has yet to be completed, and its September 30 deadline is fast approaching. In a statement, Whitmer chastised the Legislature for effectively breaking for the summer without finalizing the budget.
“There’s no reason why the bipartisan work that went into passing this supplemental shouldn’t carry over into passing the full 2020 budget," Whitmer said. "Instead of going on summer break, the Republican Legislature should get back to work so we can finish the job. Let's get it done.”
The House and Senate have tentative session days scheduled – but no clear plans yet to meet and vote. Republican leaders in the House and Senate have said that they’ll still be working even if the Legislature isn’t meeting.
