I feel like a broken record these days, because once again, I am about to tell you that Michigan’s Legislature owes residents better than this.
In a move that can only be described as baffling at best and unethical at worst, the Michigan House of Representatives has unilaterally canceled $645 million in state spending on ongoing projects, and they did it all without one single negotiating session with the state Senate. That’s not oversight. It’s definitely not accountability. It’s hands down political theater masquerading as governance.
What Really Happened
In a party-line vote with zero meaningful discussion, the House budget committee invoked a rarely used statutory loophole to disapprove nearly $645 million in funding earmarked for ongoing state projects. Instead of meaningfully debating these decisions, they made cuts behind closed doors with only minutes for review. Complete sneak attack from the Coward’s Playbook.
Among the funding now at risk:
- $18.5 million for RxKids, a cash grant program for pregnant women and new mothers
- Grants for the Holocaust Memorial Center
- Money for cancer patient support services (including wigs)
- Funds for arts, traffic safety initiatives, and economic development programs critical to bringing federal dollars to Michigan… and much more that actually serves everyday Michiganders.
House Speaker Matt Hall (*sigh*) has tried to frame this as a crusade against “government waste,” but even he conceded that not all the projects cut were waste, fraud, or abuse. Some were, simply put, valuable public services disguised as “negotiating leverage.”
Enter the Amazing Rep. Jason Morgan
After the vote, Democratic Rep. Jason Morgan called the process “some corrupt bullshit”, explicitly condemning the move as completely untransparent.
And here’s why that anger is justified:
1. This Wasn’t True Oversight, It’s a Legislature Playing Games
Rather than publicly debating spending priorities or negotiating with the Senate (which is how bicameral legislatures are meant to function) House Republicans used an obscure rule to force a funding rollback without consultation. That’s not good governance; it’s circumventing democratic norms.
2. Real People Pay the Price
This isn’t abstract budget talk; it’s money earmarked for pregnant women, families, cultural institutions, public safety initiatives, and economic development. And like good grinches, it’s all right before Christmas. Slashing those dollars without due process isn’t “fiscal responsibility”, it’s punitive shortsightedness that hits residents when they can least afford it.
Those House Members are not only tone deaf but completely out of touch with what Michiganders are struggling with. They don’t have to worry about how to pay for Christmas gifts, or how to even pay their bills. They’re living pretty cushy lives. It’s easy for them to make these pen strokes guilt-free because it never impacts them.
3. Transparency Went Out the Door
The funding list was debated in the dark, and many lawmakers from both sides didn’t see cuts until minutes before the vote. That doesn’t reflect Michiganders’ interests. That reflects insiders prioritizing power plays over public service.
Michigan Deserves Better
A state legislature’s primary duty isn’t to score points or weaponize arcane loopholes; it’s to serve the people:
- to safeguard essential services for families and vulnerable residents,
- to ensure economic development isn’t derailed,
- and to legislate with transparency and accountability.
Instead, Lansing delivered brinkmanship.
Who Voted for This Bullshit?
We have the Republicans of the House Appropriations Committee to thank for this. They apparently spent hours behind closed doors figuring out how to screw the maximum amount of Michiganders over before Christmas.
The Bottom Line (’cause Stonecold Said So)
So at the end of the day, Rep. Morgan didn’t just lob a snarky quote, he articulated a truth many Michigan residents feel: when lawmakers put politics before people, trust erodes and real services suffer.
And yes, this is the exact bullshit Michiganders are so sick and tired of dealing with.
This isn’t just a budget disagreement by any means; it’s a stark reminder that Michigan’s leaders need to focus less on internal power games and more on delivering results for the residents they’re sworn to serve.
