LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 11, 2025) — Yesterday, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee exploited a rarely used provision in state law to slash $645 million in state budget funding for crucial programs supporting Michigan’s children, communities, and economy. In response to the cruel, unprecedented action, Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement:
“In my entire time living and working in Lansing, including serving as the lead Senate budget negotiator since 2023, I have never seen anything as deliberately cruel and downright disgusting as what House Republicans did yesterday when they took it upon themselves to unilaterally cut over a half billion dollars in funding promised to Michigan’s kids and communities. We’re talking about bipartisan passed, already agreed upon resources to uplift new moms and their babies at the most vulnerable stage of life, funds to provide services to kids with cancer, resources to improve school infrastructure, food pantry expansions, affordable housing projects, and much more.
“Time and time again, I’ve said: budgets are moral documents. Not only does this political maneuver by Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues lack any ounce of humanity; it’s also completely reckless, devoid of transparency, and a slap in the face to the people of Michigan, who deserve better than this.
“Here we are nearly two weeks before Christmas, at a time when so many Michiganders across the state are already struggling to make ends meet, and rather than do his actual job to protect the people he was entrusted to serve, Speaker Hall pulls the rug out from under them. Especially after months of whiplash from the chaos and uncertainty caused by Republicans in the federal government, this action only further erodes trust in government. Michiganders simply do not have the time for this nonsense, nor should they be expected to navigate yet more chaos at the hands of state leaders.
“Over in the Senate, where we serve with actual integrity and actual leadership, you can rest assured I’m going to do everything I can to hold House Republicans accountable and ensure every Michigander knows what they did.”