Republican office holders from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) and House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) took to the airwaves this week to applaud their efforts to again pass a balanced budget well ahead of past years. The education budget, or “school bus,” includes funding for k-12, community colleges and higher education and was the last budget to be approved with final voting on the measure Tuesday and Wednesday. The $14.8 billion spending plan joins the $34.4 billion omnibus budget for all other departments that was passed last week.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) noted that the achievement marked the first time in 30 years that the Legislature had concluded the budget work prior to Flag Day in consecutive years. Later in the week, however, Senator Kahn voiced his hope that next year’s budget process would include movement away from the omnibus process as it has lead to “inappropriate speed” in completion.
Appearing at a press conference, the Republican leaders called an easy and early budget process conclusion the “new norm” that should no longer be the news story of the summer.