The full Senate Appropriations Committee met
Wednesday and Thursday, moving six budgets to the full Senate Wednesday and
another nine on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Department of Human
Services budget saw the most changes from the Subcommittee version, with
several amendments being added. Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) earned a
rare amendment from a Democrat, adding $500,000 back into the budget for the
Chaldean Community Foundation. Senator John Moolenaar (R-Midland) restored
$100,000 through an amendment to the 2-1-1 program, considered the 911 of
health and human services. The budget ultimately passed 11-3 with Senators
Morris Hood III (D-Detroit), Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), and Bert Johnson
(D-Highland Park) voting “no,” and Senator Gregory abstaining.
The topic of utilizing School Aid Fund money
in budgets outside of the K-12 budget was again discussed during the
deliberations on the Community Colleges budget Wednesday. Senator Glenn
Anderson (D-Westland) attempted to amend the budget to utilize General Fund
appropriations rather than School Aid Fund dollars and won the support of two
Republican colleagues, Senators Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township) and Mike
Green (R-Mayville). The amendment still failed 7-9.
The Community Colleges budget ended up
passing by the slimmest of margins, 9-7, with Senators Green and Colbeck voting
“no” with all Democrats.
Wednesday’s Committee action also saw the
School Aid, Higher Education, Judiciary, and Corrections budgets move to the
Senate floor.
Thursday’s action was highlighted by the
General Government budget, which included lengthy deliberations over the issue
of Internet Lottery sales. Subcommittee Chairman Senate John Pappageorge
(R-Troy) wanted to make sure the Senate-passed version of the budget differed
from the House-passed version to ensure a policy decision was made. The $3.35
million for 10 full-time equivalents ultimately was removed from the Senate
budget. Also of note is the absence of any appropriation to the state’s Budget
Stabilization, or “rainy day,” Fund.
Education, State Police, Military &
Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, Agriculture &
Rural Development, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, and Insurance budgets
were also moved in Thursday’s hearing.