There could be another budget showdown looming in Lansing.
Republicans in the Legislature have set the stage for a showdown with Governor Gretchen Whitmer over 147 line-item budget vetoes. GOP lawmakers have drafted new budgets that would restore many of the vetoes.
Gideon D’Assandro is the press secretary for state House Republicans. He says it would be up to Whitmer to decide whether to reverse the vetoes, or live with the results.
“The House and Senate have heard a lot from the people of Michigan about how unhappy they are with the governor’s budget cuts, and the way she’s using a lot of these vulnerable populations like veterans, children with autism, students, drivers, as bargaining chips.”
Many of the cuts are very unpopular – even among Democrats.
State Representative Christine Greig is the House Democratic Leader. She says the state is more than a week into the new fiscal year, but it’s not too late to reverse many of the cuts.
"This is what we are elected to do for all the parties to come to the table and get this budget done."
If they are formally introduced, the GOP-sponsored bills could put Whitmer again in the position of having to decide whether to approve spending for autism programs, schools, and veterans assistance.
Governor Whitmer’s press secretary says she did what was necessary to fix the budgets – but she’s open to more discussions.
Whitmer and legislative leaders are supposed to meet Thursday.