Governor Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her 67 billion dollar proposed budget today (THU). Now she must sell her plan to the Legislature’s Republican leaders.
The relationship between the Democratic governor and GOP leaders has hovered between frosty and hostile, with fights over the state’s COVID-19 response often at the center.
The governor said settling disagreements on return-to-school plans, helping businesses, and vaccine distribution is critical as the response moves from crisis management to recovery.
“In the face of historic, colliding crises, we must do more and we must be better. This budget is a step in the right direction.”
The new budget year begins October 1st. But Whitmer said it’s crucial for the Legislature to move before then to allocate federal COVID response funds that are already earmarked for Michigan.