Yesterday, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an official opinion declaring the maneuvers House Republicans used last month to claw back critical funding for projects and programs across the state unconstitutional.
In case you missed it, this refers to the $645 million in bipartisan, already agreed upon dollars that Speaker Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues recklessly ripped away from Michigan kids, families, small businesses, and more under the guise of ‘waste,’ ‘fraud,’ and ‘abuse.’
Before the end of the year, Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony submitted a letter to the AG requesting that she issue an opinion on the legality of the House Republicans’ actions. Yesterday’s decision by the AG, the state’s top attorney and legal expert, officially states what we already knew: a law allowing one committee of one legislative chamber to tamper with previously promised, approved, and enacted funding is unconstitutional.
Now, these crucial funds — and the support they provide for people, organizations, and communities around the state — can be restored.
You can read Senate Majority Leader Brinks and Senator Anthony’s press release on this development here.
Following yesterday’s announcement, state departments will start the process of distributing these funds so that people and projects across the state can begin receiving the money they are owed.
If you have further concerns surrounding what is going on in Lansing or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling (517) 373-2523 or by emailing SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
The Office of Mallory McMorrow
State Senator
District 8