LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Democrats accused Republicans on Wednesday of defunding police services in a new state budget plan, highlighting cuts to training programs and community safety initiatives as an Oct. 1 government shutdown deadline looms.
The Republican-controlled House passed a spending plan Tuesday (Aug. 26) that includes a 7% funding reduction for the Michigan State Police and eliminates 433 positions.
“It’s crazy to think about, given the rhetoric that Republicans have been pushing falsely on Democrats for years, but they are the ones who actually did it,” said State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer vowed to reject the proposed cuts.
“I am not going to sign a budget into law that does that. We’ve got to keep communities safe,” Whitmer said.
Republicans defended their plan, arguing that 330 of the eliminated positions are unfilled “phantom positions” still on the payroll.
State Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, pushed back against claims of compromising public safety.
“No troopers will be taken off the road by this budget,” Bollin said. “In fact, we have invested in the public safety trust fund over $110 million more, which will result in a 20% increase at the local level for police.”
The police funding dispute emerged as part of broader budget negotiations.
House Republicans claim their plan targets waste, fraud, and abuse. Senate Democrats disagree.
“What Republicans did last night (Aug. 26) was cut healthcare, cut police funding, and additionally continue their attack on the school meals program,” Camilleri said. “These things are not up for debate when it comes to our Senate Democratic caucus.”
Bollin defended the Republican approach.
“They’re phrasing this as though they’re cuts. But we worked on the budget from the bottom up, going line by line. And what we found is there is a lot of waste in state government,” Bollin said.
The ongoing budget negotiations coincided with Whitmer’s visit to Jefferson Elementary School in Wyandotte, where she met with teachers preparing for the new school year.
The visit highlighted the broader implications of the budget impasse for education funding.
“If we keep kids and family at the center of our focus and not think about anything else, everybody knows what the right thing is to do. Everybody,” said teacher Michelle Johnson before Whitmer came to her classroom.
State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they’re optimistic that the Legislature will reach a budget agreement by the October 1 deadline.
The governor brought together House Speaker Matt Hall and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks on Tuesday to move the budget talks along.
“Nothing gets done without 56 votes in the House, 20 votes in the Senate, and the governor’s signature. So we are going to have to negotiate,” Whitmer said.
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