LANSING, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Michigan lawmakers are running out of time to finalize the budget before the session ends.
It will be a busy 24 hours at the Capitol as the Legislature works to finalize the budget before the end of the session on Thursday. Among the lawmakers working Wednesday was controversial state Rep. Neil Friske is facing assault charges following his recent arrest.
CBS News Detroit spoke to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about the arrest, but the general response was “no comment.”
The state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in October, is about $80 billion. About $20 billion of this money goes to public education.
Education groups have expressed concerns about how money for public school teacher pensions is allocated today. Thursday is the last day of session for lawmakers this week before heading into the summer recess.
“I think it’s irresponsible to see it and vote on it on the same day for everyone in the House of Representatives and the Senate,” said State Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township).
Republican lawmakers, who make up the minority party, should rush to read the budget bill before voting on it. Steele said she would have liked to see more infrastructure funding in this budget.
“I’m just going to wait until the bill is introduced and then I’m going to try to read it quickly and vote no on it. That’s my plan for today,” Steele said.
The voting situation has been reversed for the past forty years when Republicans were in the majority.
“Well, I spent two terms in the minority, and I’m in the middle of one term in the majority, and I remember what that feels like,” said State Rep. Rachel Hood.
Hood said she is pleased with the budget, especially the funding for schools.
“This year our budget is a little tighter than in the past, with all that federal funding we’ve been going through with one-time expenses, but we’ve still been able to find creative ways to make sure our schools are still whole,” Hood said .
Elle Meijers
