Michiganders deserve leadership, not a House speaker who treats the state budget process like a political game. Republican House Speaker Matt Hall declared more than a month before the July 1 deadline that he refuses to negotiate in good faith to pass a final budget. Since he’s playing games, House Democrats will give you the play-by-play:
In an effort to jumpstart budget negotiations and provide kids and schools with necessary investments, House Democrats proposed a budget that allocates record funding to K-12 schools while protecting critical, guaranteed dollars for things like universal free meals, special education funding, transportation for rural districts, and early literacy teachers and curriculum.
STRIKE ONE: House Republicans passed a budget that defunds the school aid fund by 25 percent and the general fund by 92 percent, cutting universal school meals and health care for 2.7 million Michiganders.
STRIKE TWO: Under pressure from House Dems, House Republicans finally took a second try at their own school budget, only to continue pushing cuts to programs and services students and schools rely on, including universal meals, special education, at-risk students, mental health and school safety, school district transportation costs, early literacy supports, and much, much more.
Republicans have struck out twice on this budget, and the clock is running out.
As the clock runs out, we’re calling on Hall to get off stage, stop performing for the cameras and accept that real government service requires compromise.
Michiganders deserve leadership, not a House speaker who treats the state budget process like a political game. Republican House Speaker Matt Hall declared more than a month before the July 1 deadline that he refuses to negotiate in good faith to pass a final budget. Since he’s playing games, House Democrats will give you the play-by-play:
In an effort to jumpstart budget negotiations and provide kids and schools with necessary investments, House Democrats proposed a budget that allocates record funding to K-12 schools while protecting critical, guaranteed dollars for things like universal free meals, special education funding, transportation for rural districts, and early literacy teachers and curriculum.
STRIKE ONE: House Republicans passed a budget that defunds the school aid fund by 25 percent and the general fund by 92 percent, cutting universal school meals and health care for 2.7 million Michiganders.
STRIKE TWO: Under pressure from House Dems, House Republicans finally took a second try at their own school budget, only to continue pushing cuts to programs and services students and schools rely on, including universal meals, special education, at-risk students, mental health and school safety, school district transportation costs, early literacy supports, and much, much more.
Republicans have struck out twice on this budget, and the clock is running out.
As the clock runs out, we’re calling on Hall to get off stage, stop performing for the cameras and accept that real government service requires compromise.
Five years ago, the Michigan Legislature voted that the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year must be passed and presented to the governor on or before July 1. This is not an arbitrary deadline. School districts and municipalities across Michigan begin their fiscal years on July 1. Schools are determining what teachers, classroom resources and programs they can afford for the year. City councils are planning their hiring and salary budgets for police and fire stations, transportation workers and emergency response teams. House Democrats will not allow communities to be left in the dark.
Speaker Hall voted for this deadline. Now, he’s going back on his word. While Hall digs in his heels to play party politics, he’s putting Michiganders’ education, safety and livelihoods at stake. House Democrats know how important this deadline is — while we fight for you in Lansing, we need YOU to make your voice heard.
Five years ago, the Michigan Legislature voted that the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year must be passed and presented to the governor on or before July 1. This is not an arbitrary deadline. School districts and municipalities across Michigan begin their fiscal years on July 1. Schools are determining what teachers, classroom resources and programs they can afford for the year. City councils are planning their hiring and salary budgets for police and fire stations, transportation workers and emergency response teams. House Democrats will not allow communities to be left in the dark.
Speaker Hall voted for this deadline. Now, he’s going back on his word. While Hall digs in his heels to play party politics, he’s putting Michiganders’ education, safety and livelihoods at stake. House Democrats know how important this deadline is — while we fight for you in Lansing, we need YOU to make your voice heard.