LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Lawmakers in Lansing are focused on creating the legislation for the next fiscal year’s budget. The Michigan House of Representatives met for a long session Wednesday to work through hundreds of proposed amendments to over a dozen bills that lay out what items the lawmakers would like to see in the 2025 fiscal year budget.
The Representatives are working to make sure their priorities are included in the framework for the next year’s funding.
Jen Flood is Michigan’s budget director, she explained that each chamber is currently working on its own version of the bills that itemize funding for each department.
“We’re all saying ‘Hey, we want to make sure that we continue a fiscally responsible budget.’,” Flood said. “Luckily, yoopers have really strong advocates in their legislators here in town.”
Representative Dave Prestin (R – Rapid River) said that today on the House floor the amendments Republicans proposed were struck down, and their criticisms were ignored.
“This is kind of how the cake is baked, it’s the process,” Prestin said. “Today is just very, very disheartening because we could be much more respectful to the money that we’re spending, and we’re not.”
The framework sets up priorities for the governor’s plans to fund pre-K through community college, lower family costs, and build homes. The bills passed out of the House, but will only serve as a recommendation alongside the Senate’s bills.
“Then we get into the really technical nitty-gritty pieces. but what you’ll see is sort of the statement of values from the house on what they want to do with the budget, similar from the Senate, and then we’ll get together in the coming weeks to iron out the differences and put together a budget were all proud of.” Flood said. “That’s when the rubber hits the road and we’ll all get together and iron out our differences and put together a finalized budget by the end of June.”
The final state Consensus on Revenue Estimating Conference will be held on May 17th, launching work on the final draft in the Budget Conference Committee.
Flood said as lawmakers, the proposed budgets are all working towards a common goal. However, Representative Prestin said he’s still concerned about major decisions being made by a small group, rather than the whole of the legislature.
