The deadline for the Legislature to get a budget passed and sent to the governor to be signed is now July 1. Representative Greg Van Woerkom of Norton Shores sponsored the bill in an effort to prevent any future state government shutdowns or budget impasse problems like this year.
“I think this is good government policy,” said the west Michigan Republican. “It holds us accountable, as well, to be sure we are getting a budget to the governor.”
The new law does not change the deadline to have the budget approved by the governor by October 1 every year.
“This is a good faith effort to present that budget so we can have that time to further negotiate if negotiations need to be done,” added Van Woerkom.
State government shutdowns happened in 2007 and 2009, and nearly happened this year until Governor Whitmer issued line-item vetoes for nearly $1 billion from the budget and then addressed those cuts with lawmakers in supplemental budget bills. Those were signed into law on Friday along with Van Woerkom’s bill.
