LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall warned Wednesday that delays in approving runway funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base could jeopardize the future of the military installation and cost the state a future fighter mission.
During a Capitol press conference, the Richland Township Republican said lawmakers face a rapidly closing timeline to approve funding needed for runway construction at Selfridge. Hall argued construction must begin shortly after June 1 in order to keep the project on schedule.
“If we do not begin the construction very quickly after June 1, we have zero chance of building this runway,” Hall said. “If we do not build the runway, we are very likely to lose Selfridge.”
Hall sharply criticized Senate Democrats over a supplemental funding proposal that would not make money available until October. According to Hall, the delay would make it impossible to complete construction in time to secure a future fighter mission before the end of President Donald Trump’s term.
“The Senate supplemental, the way it’s structured, the money would not become available for the runway construction until October of this year,” Hall said. “If the Senate Democrats and Kevin Hertel get their way and push this funding out, the funding’s not available until October. No chance. It’s dead.”
Hall said House Republicans are negotiating with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on what he called a “clean supplemental” bill focused specifically on Selfridge funding.
“Our number one priority is getting a clean supplemental done for Selfridge, and it has to be done before we go to Mackinac Island,” Hall said, referring to the upcoming Mackinac Policy Conference.
The speaker also defended the House Republican ethics, accountability, and transparency plan.
The reforms were adopted after criticism surrounding legislative earmarks and grant spending projects. Hall said the package requires lawmakers to publicly disclose earmark requests 45 days before passage, identify project beneficiaries, hold public hearings, and submit projects to additional oversight from the Office of the Auditor General.
“We put heat in place because, you know, I saw what was going on around here for a long time, and I said, when I become speaker, we’re going to put an end to it,” Hall said.
Hall said the changes also prohibit for-profit corporations from receiving earmarked spending and require grant recipients to document expenses before reimbursement.
The speaker referenced ongoing scrutiny surrounding state grant projects and noted Attorney General Dana Nessel recently acknowledged the transparency reforms.
“I think absolutely because of heat, government is more transparent, accountable, and ethical,” Hall said.
Hall additionally promoted House Republican proposals to eliminate the state property tax, reduce utility costs, and roll back portions of Michigan’s clean energy laws.
The speaker argued local zoning rules have increased housing construction costs and said lawmakers are considering changes to limit local regulations.
“There’s some really out of control ones, and that’s why this package is needed,” Hall said, referring to local zoning ordinances.
Hall also highlighted House-passed energy legislation aimed at repealing state renewable energy mandates and restoring greater local control over wind and solar projects.
“We’re going to focus on reliability and affordability,” Hall said. “We’re going to stop all this political stuff.”
