Shiawassee Times

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a COVID-19 relief plan agreeing to spend $2.3 billion of the available $5 billion in federal funds, but she also vetoed $652 in proposals from the Republican-led Legislature, which include aid for small businesses, according to Bridge Michigan.

The funding was allocated to the state back in December, but its arrival was delayed following a disagreement between Whitmer and Republican lawmakers.

The authorized funding will cover $110 million for vaccine distribution, $283 million for emergency aid programs, $150 million for direct care workers and over $1 billion for education. Small businesses, however, were not allocated any relief funds following Whitmer’s decision to reject $405 million in business tax and fee breaks. 

Rep. Thomas Albert | Michigan House Republicans

“This desperately needed assistance was not tied to any other measure or condition in the relief plan -- yet the governor vetoed it anyway, and with it, she is killing off whatever hope struggling families and job providers had left,” House Appropriations Chairman Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) said, according to Bridge Michigan.

The governor also disapproved of a $150 million employment fund, an $87 million private school relief fund and $10 million in summer school grants. She had proposed a $5.6 billion aid plan at the beginning of the year, but the Republican party countered back with a $4.2 billion plan, which she opposed, cutting the funding down to $3.5 billion.

Other bill dismissals on behalf of the governor include allowing local health departments to determine school and event closures based on COVID-related case counts. The Michigan Association for Local Public Health argued that it would produce confusion among the school systems and the general public because academic districts don’t necessarily correlate with local health department region jurisdictions.

“There were problems in the bills that I had to veto, and I expect the Legislature to step up to fix the bill to allocate all of the money so we can get back to normal as soon as possible," Whitmer said, reported by Bridge Michigan.

House Republican representatives put forth efforts to override the vetoes but failed to acquire a two-thirds supermajority vote. An estimated $1.2 billion of untouched federal funding remains in question. Whitmer confirmed a review of the allocation, while negotiations take place to determine its distribution.

“The bills I received were not negotiated with me or my administration, and I continue to call on the Legislature to ensure that we work together to ensure we maximize every penny that is available,” Whitmer told Bridge Michigan.

Budget Director Dave Massaron is awaiting a meeting with the House and Senate to discuss the aid initiative. “If we can get together in a room and discuss our common goal to help the people of Michigan, I believe we can come to an agreement on putting the remaining federal dollars to work for our state," Massaron said, according to Bridge Michigan.