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Rep. Hall, Legislature approve plan protecting residents and curbing governor’s abuse of power in budget
RELEASE|December 10, 2019
Contact: Matt Hall

State Rep. Matt Hall (R-Marshall) joined the Michigan House today in approving a common-sense solution to end Michigan’s budget impasse.

Hall said a key part of the plan relates to the State Administrative Board, which Gov. Whitmer used to unilaterally shift $625 million in taxpayer money without oversight or accountability at the start of the current budget year. The reforms Hall supported will ensure no governor will be able to abuse the State Administrative Board again by providing checks and balances, and making the process more transparent and open.

“The governor hurt some of the most vulnerable people in Michigan with her unilateral budget transfer scheme,” Hall said after House Bill 5176 was unanimously approved by the House. “It was an unprecedented power grab that put politics over people – a move both Republicans and Democrats agree should never happen again. The solution I voted for protects the hard-working taxpayers of Michigan, the public services they rely on and restores the people’s trust in government by maintaining the separation of government’s powers.”

As the new budget year began Oct. 1, Gov. Whitmer used the State Administrative Board to eliminate Legislature-approved support for some of Michigan’s most vulnerable people – including victims of human trafficking, rape survivors and at-risk children. She instead shifted the funds into her own bureaucratic priorities.

The new plan would require the governor to work with the Legislature when using the State Administrative Board to make budgetary transfers. The governor’s administration would have to first request that the Legislature’s appropriations committees approve the transfers. If the Legislature does not take action within 30 days, the governor’s transfers take effect.

The Legislature also would have some budgetary transfer powers under the plan.

“This reform ensures no governor – present and future – could eliminate funding for entire programs without a transparent process that involves input from the public and the Legislature,” Hall said.

House Bill 5176 will now head to Gov. Whitmer for her expected signature.

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