Michigan Lawmakers Near Budget Deal Amid Shutdown Risk Oct 1

Michigan faces a looming government shutdown as lawmakers have until October 1 to pass a state budget, with negotiations stalled due to a $6 billion gap between House Republicans and Senate Democrats. The divided Legislature, with a Republican-led House and Democrat-controlled Senate, has yet to reconcile differences on spending priorities such as state employee positions and road funding, raising concerns about disruptions to essential services including school aid payments, liquor distribution, and Medicaid claims. Governor Gretchen Whitmer remains optimistic about reaching a bipartisan agreement on time, emphasizing her history of signing balanced budgets and the importance of protecting services like universal free school meals. However, public employee unions, school leaders, and families are already feeling the strain from the budget impasse, with some warning of potential layoffs, school closures, and larger class sizes if a deal is not reached. Political leaders continue to blame each other for the stalemate, with Republicans criticizing Democrats for rejecting a stripped-down budget plan and Democrats insisting on a comprehensive, bipartisan solution. As the deadline nears, additional legislative sessions are being scheduled to try to resolve the standoff and avert the shutdown, but uncertainty remains about the state's preparedness for a potential partial government closure.