Grant Responds to Attorney General Nessel’s Opinion Finding House Republicans’ $645 Million Clawback Unconstitutional 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 7, 2026 — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an opinion today concluding that the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee’s decision to claw back more than $645 million in previously approved community projects was unconstitutional. The opinion follows weeks of immediate and relentless actions from legislative House Democrats fighting to urge the restoration of dollars promised to kids, moms, families, small businesses and more.

In response, state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) issued the following statement:

“When these funds were canceled last month, I said it was a shocking and deeply harmful breach of the public’s trust. The Attorney General’s opinion now confirms that this decision was not only damaging but was unconstitutional. A single, unilateral committee vote should never be used to upend investments that were lawfully approved and that communities were already relying on.

“For nonprofits, clinics and service providers, this opinion matters because accountability matters. Families depend on prenatal and infant care, neighborhood health clinics, workforce and small-business support, mental health outreach and community safety programs to stay afloat. Those dollars were promised and pulling them back created real fear and instability for the most vulnerable Michiganders. Our communities deserve consistency, transparency and leadership that honors its commitments.”

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