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LANSING, Michigan (AP) – Michigan lawmakers who finished passing the state budget on Wednesday will then turn to allocating an unprecedented amount of federal COVID-19 rescue funding – money that is largely flexible and can be spent as the state chooses.
For months, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed ways to allocate $ 6.5 billion in discretionary funds approved by Congress and President Joe Biden. About $ 5.7 billion is left after the bipartisan budget deal and the enactment of K-12 and additional spending bills in July.
The up-front grants will expand free preschool eligibility for low-income 4-year-olds, help schools that want to switch to a year-round schedule, and help hospitals and nursing homes facing financial pressures.
The aid will also be used to partially replenish the public fund for unemployment benefits and increase Medicaid payments for care facilities. New economic development grants will help rehabilitate vacant buildings and develop “Place-based infrastructure” associated with social areas, city centers and alfresco dining in communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Lawmakers also left $ 1.8 billion unspent in federal coronavirus aid with which they have less leeway and $ 3 billion in excess state revenue, according to the state budget office.
“I look forward to additional infrastructure, education and water packages that we can put in place over the next few months,” Democratic House Leader Donna Lasinski of Scio Township in Washtenaw County told reporters after the House passed $ 55 billion in spending out of 99-6 and 97-8 votes. The governor will sign it and likely declare certain provisions on vaccines and masks backed by Republicans constitutionally unenforceable before October 1, the date the next fiscal year begins.
More recently, she proposed spending billions of federal pandemic funding to boost the business climate and expand health care and infrastructure, including to increase access to mental health services, replace mental health hospitals. ‘State and build a new public health laboratory. Other initiatives would expand tuition-free programs for adults 25 and older and frontline workers, provide grants and loans to small businesses, replace lead water pipes, and upgrade water parks. State.
Republicans in the GOP-led Senate have also made proposals. Local bridges would be rehabilitated or replaced, beyond those fixed under the budget agreement. Another would replace lead pipes, modernize drinking water and wastewater facilities, repair dams and clean up sites contaminated by “Chemicals forever” called PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
“In the months to come, we will continue to take advantage of the opportunity to make additional one-off investments that will strengthen Michigan for years to come,” said the chairman of the House appropriations committee, Thomas Albert, a Republican from Lowell.
GOP lawmakers have included provisions in the budget designed to restrict state and municipal requirements for coronavirus vaccines – including for government employees – to ban vaccine passports and ban mask-masking warrants. schools that have been ordered by the county health departments. President Joe Biden plans to require vaccinations for employers with 100 or more workers, which could still affect state and municipal employees.
Whitmer, who has said she has no plans to impose the vaccine, is expected to hit the anti-mask language. Republicans said there was agreement on at least part of the vaccine arrangements.
“Public funds cannot be used to create or support a vaccine passport, and this ensures that government employees enjoy immunization exemptions. In addition, students must benefit from exemptions from vaccines or from reasonable accommodation ”, Albert said.
Whitmer spokesman Bobby Leddy said her office was conducting a legal review of the legislation and was aware of the likely unenforceable or unconstitutional language it “Will address”. He said the governor made it clear during negotiations that she would not prevent businesses, local health departments and schools from using “All the necessary tools” to fight COVID-19.
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Associated Press / Report for America writer Anna Liz Nichols in Lansing contributed.
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