GOP leaders want Whitmer to weaken her budget powers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republicans who control Michigan's Legislature say the state budget will not be resolved until Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agrees to restrict her unilateral power to shift money within departments.

Nearly a month has passed since Whitmer signed a spending plan while vetoing nearly $1 billion in proposed funding to reopen budget negotiations following a breakdown in road-funding talks.

The historic level of line-item vetoes got most of the attention because of the broad impact if the cuts to charter schools, college scholarships, hospitals and other programs are not reversed. But Whitmer's extraordinary use of the State Administrative Board to transfer $625 million is what GOP lawmakers say must be addressed first.

"I made very clear that I cannot appropriate any more money and send it to the administration unless we have some real assurances on where that money will be spent and where that money will ultimately go," said House Speaker Lee Chatfield, a Republican from Levering. "There needs to be some restrictions on the Administrative Board."

He said Thursday the governor-controlled board should have caps on how much money can be moved within each department, much like in the 1970s and 1980s.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Clarklake Republican, said his goal is to ensure that Whitmer and future governors could still unilaterally make transfers within the budget "when it's necessary" while the Legislature would maintain its spending power.

"Right now, the way the statute is written, there is no balance of power in it," he said.

Whitmer is not interested in signing changes to the Administrative Board law.

"I've been pretty clear. I think that I'm not going to abrogate executive authority, not for my administration or any future...