The
House of Representatives wrapped up its version of the 2013-14 fiscal year
budget on Wednesday, narrowly passing both its omnibus budget bill and its
education omnibus budget bill. HB
4328, the agency omnibus budget, passed 59-51, with Representative Tom
Hooker (R- Byron Center) joining the Democratic caucus in voting no.
Democrats
criticized Republicans for not putting Medicaid expansion in the budget.
Governor
Rick Snyder had called on the Legislature to expand Medicaid eligibility to 133
percent of the federal poverty level as the federal Affordable Care Act
demanded. The U.S. Supreme Court said Congress could not require the states
expand eligibility, but Mr. Snyder said doing so would save the state a lot of
money while providing greater care to lower income persons.
Rep.
Matt Lori (R-Constantine), Chair of the House Appropriations Community Health
Subcommittee, said it was difficult to put together the Department of Community
Health budget without the Medicaid expansion dollars. Mr. Lori indicated he
supports the expansion, but also said more education needed to be done to get
the Legislature to support it.
Democrats
criticized other provisions in the budget, including an amendment adopted
Tuesday that took the $25 million in funding for the film incentive program and
put it toward local infrastructure projects, along with another $25 million
taken from the business attraction and community revitalization appropriation.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) was quick to defend the
film incentive program and was confident the funding would be restored.
HB
4228, the school aid, community colleges and higher education budget bill,
passed with a 58-52 vote. Reps. Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck) and Martin Howrylak
(R-Troy) were the only Republicans to vote no, along with the entire Democratic
caucus.
Within
the school aid budget, all schools would have a $7,000 per pupil allowance
after an equity payment of $34 per student for schools with the minimum
foundation allowance of $6,966.