The Metro: Power, money and silence — Michigan politics this week
Decisions in Lansing this week stalled local projects, tested constitutional limits, and exposed stark differences in how political leaders choose to respond — or remain silent — when lives and money are on the line.
Inside the Michigan Capitol building.
In Michigan, hundreds of millions of dollars that people are counting on remain frozen.
Last year’s state budget included roughly $645 million in “work-project” funding for things like local roads, public safety, and community services. But in December, House Republicans voted to block it. With that money still on hold, projects aren’t moving.
The Democrat-controlled Senate voted to restore the funding.
This week, Attorney General Dana Nessel said the committee didn’t have the constitutional authority to do that, calling it an improper “legislative committee veto.”
House Republicans are considering a court challenge.
Meanwhile, lawmakers debate tax breaks for data centers, how cannabis revenue should be used, and the regulation of consumable hemp products—decisions that affect utility bills, road repairs, and small businesses.
Politics reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, Colin Jackson, joined Robyn Vincent to break down the constitutional fight over the funding freeze and what it reveals about power, process, and everyday life in Michigan.
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