Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed two budget bills to fund the state’s COVID-19 response. But the bills also include line-item vetoes to the chagrin of Republicans and business groups.
The governor vetoed restrictions adopted by the GOP-led Legislature on how the money could be used. Dave Massaron is the governor’s budget director.
“There were some political games played with some of the funding that put restrictions on the ability to use that funding. Legal review of those restrictions and the impact of those restrictions is ongoing.”
Massaron called on Republican leaders to engage in direct talks before the end of the week in an effort to settle their differences.
GOP leaders said it’s the Whitmer administration that’s playing political games in an effort to continue using emergency powers.