Bills moving through the state House would limit some of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s powers.
After Whitmer signed the current state budget, the state Administrative Board met. That board – made up of Whitmer allies – moved money around within department budgets. She said she did this because Republicans weren’t working with her on the budget.
Republican lawmakers were not a fan of the move. They introduced bills that would do things like cap how much money the governor could move around within departments, and prevent certain types of budget items from being changed altogether.
Republican Representative Jason Sheppard (R-Temperance) is chair of a committee that passed the bills Wednesday. He said no governor should have the unlimited ability to move money around without approval of the Legislature.
“I think that’s something that all of us have to take a little pause at, because what’s the purpose of the Legislature at that point if money can be shifted around,” Sheppard said. “So, we really need to rectify that situation.”
Representative Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills), leader of the Democrats in the state House, said she is so over this.
“To me it’s just noise and really don’t care to engage in it at all,” she said. “We should be working on the budget and not all this other stuff.”
