LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature’s Republican leaders say they’re confident they can reach a budget deal without risking a shutdown.
Whitmer, a Democrat, backed down on a demand for a fuel tax increase to raise new revenue for roads. That’s after she accused Republicans of steering the state toward a government shutdown without a budget deal.
Senator Jim Stamas is the Republican budget chair. He says that threat stalled negotiations, but the Legislature’s GOP majorities were ready to send budget bills to Whitmer with or without a deal.
“If we’re not able to come to an agreement, we plan on making sure we meet our commitment to having a budget on time and sent to the governor.”
The October 1 deadline for having a budget in place is less than three weeks away. Without a budget, it would up to the Whitmer administration to determine which state services are not essential.