The process used for Senate Bill Nos. 7 and 8 before us today was disgraceful. These appear to be book-closing bills that have been in the works for some time, yet we are finding out about them only in the last minute. It is not hard to schedule a committee hearing, and in this case we most definitely should have had one. Michigan taxpayers and residents deserve more transparency than this. Sometimes appropriations bills must be handled in a relative hurry—I understand that—but in this case there is no reason for the bills to be rushed for a vote today. I realize this may not be the final version of the appropriations bills, but still the process could have been better and they should have been handled in a better manner. I ask for a “no” vote.
Senator Bellino’s statement is as follows:
Mr. President, last week there were a lot of press releases, tweets, and social media posts from my colleagues across the aisle about finally lowering taxes on inflation-weary Michiganders, as if this idea wasn’t voted on a few times last year. But here we are again today, and what are the first real votes of this new Democratic majority? Bills spending more of the people’s money, not bills giving money back to the people. Unlike these spending bills, the bills that cut taxes for some people at least over a four-year period are going through the committee process for further discussion. These spending bills, meanwhile, are apparently on the fast track. No time for questions when you’ve got $9 billion burning a hole in your pocket, I guess. Now I know there’s some worthwhile appropriations in this bill, but the message it sends is that Democrats are in a rush to spend the people’s money instead of a rush to put more money back into people’s pockets, and this is one bill I cannot support. I urge your “no” vote.
Senator Anthony asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Anthony’s statement is as follows:
You know, it’s just been over a week since we started this legislative term, and as the newly-appointed Senate Appropriations Committee chair what I’ve learned is that there were weeks and weeks and months in which the Republicans who were in control last term did not finish the job. There are many things on the balance sheet that need to be cleaned up, and closing the books is something we’ve done year after year in this chamber. So, today I ask our colleagues to vote “yes” in order to begin our appropriations process by cleaning up the work that didn’t get done last term.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 8, entitled
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending sections 11, 22b, 31f, 39a, 51a, 51c, 53a, 54, and 147c (MCL 388.1611, 388.1622b, 388.1631f, 388.1639a, 388.1651a, 388.1651c, 388.1653a, 388.1654, and 388.1747c), sections 11 and 51a as amended by 2022 PA 212 and sections 22b, 31f, 39a, 51c, 53a, 54, and 147c as amended by 2022 PA 144.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: