All Work Project Denials Return Under Senate Bill; Anthony Wants AG's Opinion

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/16/2025) All the work project spending the House Republicans denied last week would be restored under legislation the Senate passed Tuesday evening, 23-15, with four Republican yes votes.

With no debate, the Senate subbed-out a supplemental spending bill, HB 4576 , and passed it without debate or comment. The action came after the Senate Appropriations Committee took two hours of emotional testimony criticizing the House Republicans' decision to block $644.9 million in previously approved work projects, with Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) (D–Lansing) calling the move reckless, opaque and harmful to communities statewide.

Sens. Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon), John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), Mark Huizenga (R-Walker), Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.) and Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) joined all the present Democrats in voting “yes" on the bill.

After the vote, Senate Democrats released a letter Anthony sent Attorney General Dana Nessel asking for a formal opinion on whether allowing either the House or Senate appropriations committee to disapprove work projects designated by the state budget director violates the Michigan Constitution.

Opening the Dec. 16 hearing, Anthony said House Republicans used a rarely invoked provision of the Management and Budget Act to reject work projects behind closed doors, without public debate or notice to affected organizations. She argued the action contradicted repeated GOP calls for transparency and accountability, while cutting funding for programs serving children, public safety and local governments.

“They changed the rules midstream,” Anthony said.

She called the move “bad fiscal policy and terrible governance” that undermines trust in the state budget process. She said organizations made hiring decisions and signed contracts based on budgets approved by both chambers and signed by the governor, only to see funding pulled after projects were already underway.

Witnesses from across Michigan described immediate fallout. Maggie Varney, founder of Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, said her nonprofit lost more than $56,000 for custom wigs already ordered for children undergoing medical treatment. Leaders from youth mental health groups, workforce programs and community colleges warned that staffing, prevention services and training pipelines were now at risk.

Local officials detailed stalled construction and public safety concerns. Lansing schools Superintendent Ben Schuldiner said the district is halfway through rebuilding a track using state funds promised through 2026 and now faces uncertainty over how to finish the project.

Downriver officials testified that a nearly completed regional public safety and workforce headquarters could be delayed despite millions already spent.

Hamtramck Fire Chief Matthew Wyszczelski said his department signed a contract for a new fire engine after funding was approved and now faces a potential $900,000 bill without reimbursement.

Health and social service leaders also testified. Dr. Mona Hanna, of Michigan State University, said funding cuts threaten expansion of the “Rx Kids” cash assistance program for new mothers, potentially excluding about 6,000 babies. Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin Jones warned that clawing back funds tied to the Flint water crisis recovery would weaken student mental health and health supports.

Repeatedly, witnesses said no one from the House Appropriations Committee contacted them before the funding decisions were made. Several senators, including Republicans, expressed concern that the move could discourage responsible planning by incentivizing rushed spending.

“It feels like it creates almost a perverse incentive to blow all the dollars you get immediately. What does knowing this is a possibility do to people who receive future grants," Damoose said.

Bumstead added, “A person is only as good as their word, and we can’t lose that. We can’t lose the people’s trust.”

Drawing on his background as a contractor, Bumstead said, “When you break a contract, that’s not how you do business. All we really have in this building is our word."

However, Sen. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) said as a result of the House Republicans' action, work project authorizations will be more expressly written throughout the original budget document, which is a more appropriate way to budget.

“I think the work project is going to have to be negotiated up front,” he said.

Anthony closed the hearing pledging to pursue legislative, budgetary and negotiating tools to restore the funds.

“All we have in this room is our word,” she said. “And when that word is broken, communities suffer.”