LANSING, Mich. – Michigan state workers received reassurance Tuesday that their jobs would not be impacted as lawmakers race against a midnight deadline to finalize the state budget for the new fiscal year.
The governor’s office confirmed in an email to state employees that government operations will continue uninterrupted during budget negotiations, providing relief to both public servants and residents who depend on state services.
While lawmakers worked to hammer out the details Tuesday (Sept. 30) morning and afternoon, advocates for various causes gathered at the state Capitol.
Cannabis industry supporters held a demonstration outside the Capitol in protest of a proposed 24% tax on marijuana, which recently passed the House and awaits Senate consideration. The tax revenue would be earmarked for road repairs.
“The impact is going to be really huge,” said Jayson Prochet, business development and sales representative for Cali-Blaze Blue Fox Brands. “Right now, the margins are slim as they are already, and I don’t think they really know how thin the margins are. Michigan’s a volume state. If you take away our ability to push volume in this state, it’s going to cripple our industry.”
Demonstrator Kori Brogdon, a budtender, explained why she decided to attend the rally.
“We are a community. We stand together. We stick together. We are passionate people,” Brogdon said.
Inside the Capitol, the Michigan Laborers District Council lobbied lawmakers to maintain focus on road funding commitments.
“We are here today to just talk to legislators and remind folks of the importance of executing the agreed-upon deal between the legislative leadership and the governor on the $1.8 billion road funding plan,” said Robert Joerg, government affairs director for the Michigan Laborers District Council.
Despite the looming deadline, officials expressed optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
“I don’t anticipate that we are going to come to a stop or anything like that. I think we have a very good framework. Everybody is committed to it,” House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township) said.
The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 at midnight.
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