Created Equal: How Michigan’s $82B budget will affect the state’s most vulnerable populations
Gongwer reporter Alethia Kasben and Michigan Public Radio Network reporter Colin Jackson joined the show to discuss the budget’s strengths and downfalls.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks about her budget priorities for the upcoming year at the Detroit Parent Network resource center on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2023.
Last week, lawmakers in Lansing approved the state’s $82.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year — a slight increase from the $80 billion budget proposed in January.
In her budget address this spring, Governor Gretchen Whitmer outlined priorities that include lifting the lives of children and the state’s poor. But how much of that was sustained in what legislators finally adopted, and how will this new budget affect the state’s most vulnerable populations and provide more economic opportunity?
On today’s episode of Created Equal, host Stephen Henderson was joined by Gongwer News Service reporter Alethia Kasben and Michigan Public Radio Network capitol reporter Colin Jackson to discuss the budget’s strengths and downfalls.
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Guests:
Alethia Kasben is a reporter and the managing editor at Gongwer News Service Michigan. She said the biggest issue with the budget is the Democratic education proposal to move money from the teacher’s retirement and health care fund for other k-12 education needs, a move she says caused some clashes.
“These groups are traditionally Democratic allies,” said Kasben. “And they did not like that they weren’t getting a per pupil increase, and they were pushing hard for democrats to vote no on this, which is part of reason we sat around for eight or so hours waiting until after midnight to first see the budget and then almost five for final passage.”
Colin Jackson is a capitol reporter at Michigan Public Radio Network. He says there were many other less central issues brought forth by the Legislature before going on summer recess, noting it’s not likely they are going to do a lot before election day.
“It was kind of a lot of odds and ends that the Legislature was tying up and I was curious to see what would happen,” said Jackson. “We did see some action on a range of bills whether it’s some legislation to strengthen Michigan’s laws against ticket bots, to a bill that would allow medically frail prisoners to better chances at parole.”
Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
