Senate Passes $100 Million in Road Funding, Addresses HICA Revenue Shortfall

In order to combat potholes arising from one of Michigan’s worst winters on record, the State Senate passed $100 million in additional funding for roads on Thursday. Although Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville was hesitant to allocate the entire amount, he voted yes on the legislation.

The Appropriations supplemental, SB 608, passed by a 32-6 vote, about three hours after it was reported to the floor from the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill includes $114.6 million for the Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) revenue shortfall, as well as the construction authorizations for five capital outlay projects that were approved by a Joint Capital Outlay Committee on Wednesday.

Also included was $5.1 million to help schools taking in students from dissolved districts, $25 million in General Fund money for community mental health funding for non-Medicaid individuals, and the restoration of funding to Hutzel Women’s Hospital Perinatology Research Branch that conducts research and treatment on at-risk babies.

Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township) argued that the community mental health funding would “lower the bar” when it comes to assessing how much state savings came from the Medicaid expansion (which ultimately would determine whether an automatic repeal is invoked).

Six Republicans voted no: Senators Darwin Booher of Evart, Jack Brandenburg of Harrison Township, Patrick Colbeck of Canton Township, Joe Hune of Hamburg, Phil Pavlov of St. Clair and John Proos of St. Joseph.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, February 21, 2014 11:20 AM
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