Public Media from Michigan State University

Lawmakers To Iron Out Differences On Emergency Road Money And Medicaid Shortfall Bill

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The State House and Senate has not been able to agree on a mid-year budget bill.

As The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher reports, lawmakers formed a conference committee Wednesday to iron out those differences.

The bill could address emergency money for Michigan roads being torn apart by severe winter weather. But the House and Senate disagree about how much is needed to address the problem. They also don’t agree about whether to patch a hole in the state’s Medicaid budget of more than a hundred million dollars.

Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Kahn says that should be a no-brainer.

“The budget today – other than parsing words and making some fancy lawyer argument – is not sound,” he says.

But state House Republicans want to address the Medicaid issue in a controversial bill to overhaul the state’s no-fault auto insurance system.

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Jake Neher is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He covers the State Legislature and other political events in Lansing.