Michigan Democrats, Republicans spar over a special session planned Tuesday about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a 70-day extension of her emergency powers.
Hearing concerns from educators, Michigan’s Senate Majority Leader says he’s considering changes to the law that could flunk 5,000 third-graders in May.
Gretchen Whitmer responds to criticism from Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and says both sides are no closer to finding a compromise on a weeks-long budget stalemate over $1 billion in cuts and transfers. Shirkey apologized again Monday afternoon.
County sheriffs, small schools, local governments and other groups grappling with state funding cuts may have to wait several more weeks for Michigan leaders to resolve an ongoing budget dispute.
Now that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has gone on a line-item veto spree, some $947 million in taxpayer money is unspent. Time is running out, but Whitmer says ‘all is not lost’ and there’s still an opportunity to salvage programs.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is left out of negotiations as legislators boost budget for state $15.2 billion. The budget doubles the number of literacy coaches, but critics say the funding isn’t enough to improve test scores.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has her own hurdles selling a gas tax hike. But as she notes, Republican leaders have yet to show how they would raise the more than $2 billion needed for roads as the Legislature breaks for summer recess.
Michigan’s new Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders promised bipartisan collaboration this year as divided government replaced eight years of Republican rule. Despite skirmishes, the two sides are still talking.
Fixing the roads and reforming Michigan’s expensive no-fault auto insurance are issues that both major parties say they want to fix. Republicans say they are willing to work with new Democractic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
