LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday unveiled a $5.6 billion plan to combat and recover from the coronavirus pandemic, proposing the use of billions in federal relief and $575 million in surplus state funds.The request will go to Michigan s Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday, less than a month after Congress and President Trump enacted additional COVID-19 aid that will flow through states and fund priorities such as vaccine distribution, testing, tracing, higher food assistance
Read Whitmer’s $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy
Updated Jan 21, 2021;
Posted Jan 21, 2021
The typical amount of desks are shown as spaced at 3 feet in a classroom in Novi Wednesday July 29, 2020. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration released the full details of her $5.6 billion supplemental spending plan Wednesday afternoon, the bulk of which would direct federal COVID-19 response funds to vaccination efforts, getting students and staff back into physical classrooms and boosting the state’s economy.
All but $575 million of the $5.6 billion plan comes from federal COVID-19 recovery funding that was directed to the state by Congress. That includes $90.2 million for administering COVID-19 vaccines, $574.8 million for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, $660.9 million for emergency rental assistance, $2 billion for additional food assistance and $1.66 billion for schools from the Elementary and
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking Michigan's Republican-controlled Legislature to approve a $5.6 billion midyear spending bill to fund programs for fighting the coronavirus pandemic and recovering from the economic fallout.Some Republican lawmakers have signaled a desire to withhold…
Battle Heating Up Over Michigan State Senator
Michigan Democratic Parter leaders are setting their sights on Republican State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. The Clark Lake State Senator represents the state s 16th Senate District covering parts of Jackson, Hillsdale, and Branch counties.
Democrats claim Shirkey may have connections to Michigan militia groups. The push for an investigation comes after the Senator revealed during an interview in Jackson that he met with militia leaders before the alleged kidnap and murder plot against Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
WXYZ-TV in Detroit reports the exchange was revealing to those who viewed the interview. During the September interview, Shirkey said, “The militia groups are getting a bad rap.”
Sen. Mike Shirkey on Jackson TV: His name was Rona. (Photo: JTV) State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, speaking about his 2020 battle with Covid, joked Monday: The Chinese flu army sent in one of their best soldiers. His name was Rona. . He and I wrestled for nine days, but I finally pinned him. The remark on The Bart Hawley Show” on Jackson Television, triggered rebukes from Lansing Democats and Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group. “So apparently in addition to long-term heart and lung issues, Covid causes racist outbursts? said Scott in a statement. Never mind, with Shirkey that was a pre-existing condition. In a more decent world, Shirkey would be held accountable for making a racist comment like this but we all know that because of his position in the Senate, and because he’s a white male Republican, it’s unlikely that he’ll face any consequences.