Massive cuts to state work projects championed by Republican House Speaker Matt Hall and appropriations chair Rep. Ann Bolin were unconstitutional, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in an opinion Wednesday.
The request for a formal opinion over whether Republicans could legally halt $645 in state spending for work projects came from state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The debate over the move from the Republican appropriations chair has enraged Democrats, who say the cut in funding is cruel and promised to introduce new legislation or sue Republicans.
Nessel wrote that the law, or “disapproval mechanism” Bolin used to reject the funds from moving past the committee violates the separation of powers as stated in the state constitution.
Nessel said the disapproval mechanism allowed a legislative committee to unilaterally terminate funding that was already appropriated by the Legislature and governor.
“It is in my opinion, therefore, that the disapproval mechanism in MCL 18.1451a(3) amounts to a legislative committee veto that violates (sic) the Michigan Constitution, which requires the separation of powers among the three branches of government,” Nessel wrote.
House Democrats held a press conference last month blasting Republicans for cuts they said were the result of Republicans putting party allegiance over an oath of office and the well being of residents.
Minority floor leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, told reporters House Republicans were fine telling residents, “screw you,” due to their desire to appease Republicans in DC hellbent on cutting funding to social services.
Republican leaders in the House approved cuts to state agency work projects including $69.2 million from the state Department of Health and Human Services; $137.2 million cut from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; $192.2 million from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget; and $104.1 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Much of the money for work projects go toward schools and community organizations.
“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,” Anthony said in a statement. “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.”
Of the approximately $18 million in cut funds going to temporary assistance for families, $1.6 million was cut from for emergency declaration water funding, which was used in Flint, which is still feeling the effects of the its infamous lead water crisis.
Hall told reporters the Flint Water Crisis was over.
“It is just unfair, for everyone across the state, that he would do such a heinous thing,” Neeley said, the Michigan Advance reported. “Especially to children, and especially ones that have been suffering for the last 10 years.”
Hall told reporters Wednesday he plans to sue to halt the funds from being spent.
You can read Nessel’s full opinion here:
