Michigan lawmakers pass continuation budget while final state budget is ironed out

Michigan lawmakers passed a short-term continuation budget early Wednesday to avert a statewide government shutdown. 

The continuing budget will fund the state government for one week, giving lawmakers that long to finalize a budget deal between the Michigan House and Senate. A joint statement by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, a Democrat, and state Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican, said the legislature will pass a full budget “this week.”

“Both chambers have adopted greater transparency measures to protect taxpayer dollars in the budget and committed to a negotiated permanent transparency law change,” the statement said.

The leaders noted they only needed to draft the bills for the budget and put them through a legal review.

The Democratic-controlled state Senate and the Republican-controlled

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