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| Senate Democrat Leader Winnie Brinks |
By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
The July 1st legal deadline for the legislature to pass a budget recently came and went---all without a budget actually being passed as required by state law.
Speaker Hall and House Republicans did EVERYTHING they could to meet their legal obligations, most notably passing a historic education budget that gives schools the resources they need at record levels, all while ending controversial DEI programs, and keeping boys out of girls sports.
Districts also have a lot more flexibility on how to spend their money instead of much of that being decided for them by Lansing lobbyists.
The bipartisan House Republican road package that was passed fixes Michigan roads without raising taxes by using existing money, and cutting corporate welfare.
The House passed a responsible budget that puts taxpayers first while also recognizing that Republicans don't control the Senate or the Governor's office, and as Mick said, "you can't always get what you want."
Unfortunately, over in the Senate, Democrats passed a budget from HELL: it's embarrassingly partisan, extremely radical, and actually illegal because of the unconstitutional $1 billion deficit.
Senate Dems want to raise taxes on hunters and fisherman, start the process to add a new tax on vehicles for every mile driven, and kick 60,000 vulnerable Michiganders off Medicaid---possibly to blame President Trump. This budget is horrendous!
Sara Anthony, the Democrat in charge of the budget process in the Senate through her role as Appropriations Chair, said she doesn't give a damn about the July 1st legal deadline---she said that she doesn't care about it.
It's time to make her care!
We need legislation addressing this issue.
Every week after July 1st that goes by without a budget being passed, legislators SHALL have 20% of their pay withheld on a climbing basis.
Week 1: 20% withheld
Week 2: 40% withheld
Week 3: 60% withheld
Week 4: 80% withheld
Week 5: 100% withheld
After 5 weeks, at 12:01 on August 5th, that money is no longer going to be withheld: it's gone, sent to the General Fund.
Week 6: starting August 5th at 12:01 AM, all withheldpay is totally forfeited to the General Fund, and no new checks issued until a budget is passed! No work, no pay... And no backpay.
Starting at 12:01 AM on October 1st, the beginning of the new fiscal year, Legislators SHALL be fined $999/day until a budget is passed. The fine must be paid personally, and not out of any committee, PAC, c4, WHATEVER...
Senate Dems would sing a much different tune if they weren't being paid, and their Dem friends over in the House were blowing up their phones pissed AF that they are playing games, and screwing around.
Funny thing is, even Big Gretch is sick of the Senate Dems and their bullshit. She recently said that the only people who have been serious about putting out a budget plan are her, and Speaker Hall...
Stay tuned!
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
️The foundation allowance is locked in at $12,000 per student (+$2,392) - an all-time record! 
The House Republican education budget delivers for our teachers, students and parents!
WITHOUT
Cut $1 billion+ of corporate welfare
Use the sales tax ALREADY paid at the pump
️Prioritize current funding in the budget
Cut $600 million in wasteful, BS spending
House Republicans also passed the bipartisan Public Safety And Violence Prevention Trust Fund to support local police departments and Sheriffs all across Michigan with nearly $120 million
For the first time ever, any legislator requesting a special earmark project had to put their name behind it.
However, over in the Senate---where Dem Appropriations Chair Sara Anthony actually said she doesn't give a damn about the July 1st legal deadline---it's been a much different story.