Senate Majority
Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) said that he plans to discuss road-funding
solutions with every member of the Senate during the upcoming one-week break,
before returning June 30. Sources throughout the Senate have said that a
package could come before the chamber as early as the week of July 4. The
solution will most likely include tax increases, according to Senate sources,
as finding $1 billion in budget cuts does not seem plausible.
The Senate
Republicans have had various meetings throughout the month of June in an
attempt to find a viable solution that the caucus can support. According to Mr.
Meekhof, progress has been made during the discussions and a solution will
hopefully be presented during July. Currently he says that all options are
still on the table regarding budget cuts, as his members are evaluating
different ways to find the necessary $1 billion.
Multiple sources have
reported that the Senate’s final proposal will include both an increase in the
state’s gas tax, as well as cuts throughout the budget. Spokesperson for
Majority Leader Meekhof, Amber McCann, refused to confirm these reports as she
repeated that no plan has been finalized. The cuts have been rumored to be as
small as $150 million and as large as $800 million, leaving a large margin for
discussion.
The Senate’s proposal
comes on the heels of Proposal 15-1’s defeat on the ballot in May, as well as
the House of Representative’s plan, which was passed last week. The House plan
has come under fire for various reasons, including the elimination of the
Earned Income Tax Credit and the decrease in funding for the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation.