Early
this week the Senate passed the final piece of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget to
the Governor’s desk in the form of HB
4328, the omnibus budget bill. The omnibus education bill, or “school bus,”
with spending plans for the K-12, higher education, and community colleges was
sent to the Governor last week.
Republican
leadership praised the budget, noting that it was the third consecutive year
the budget process was completed early. The measure passed 24-14 with GOP
Senators Joe Hune (R-Hamburg) and Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) joining all
Democrats in opposition.
While
focusing on the lack of funding associated with the Medicaid expansion proposal
in their opposition, Democrats still found positive aspects of the spending
plan, calling attention to the funding of mental health for special populations,
mental health and drug courts, and funding of the Graduate Medical Education
program in the Department of Community Health.
In
addition to noting the timeliness of the budget, Senate Majority Leader Randy
RIchardville (R-Monroe) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Kahn
(R-Saginaw) touted the $250 million of new transportation dollars and the $46
million increase in revenue sharing to local governments.