LANSING, Mich. — Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, on Wednesday issued the following statement after Senate Democrats finalized passage of their partisan legislation to prescribe the state’s 2026 fiscal year budget:
“Senate Democrats continue to show their true priorities lie with criminals and their out-of-touch radical social agenda over hardworking Michiganders who are counting on them for actual leadership. State spending has grown over 40% since Gov. Whitmer took office, and Democrats have forced through another budget to raise taxes and grow the size of government without addressing serious issues Michiganders care most about.
“While families have had to tighten their own household budgets, Senate Democrats want to spend more and more, wasting millions on priorities like housing for illegal immigrants, programs to help underprivileged people grow and sell cannabis and studies on how to tax the miles you drive.
“Democrats struck down nearly 90 amendments offered by Republicans to create a more responsible bipartisan budget package, including measures to support local police cooperation with the deportation of dangerous criminal illegal aliens and protect Michigan tax dollars from going to corporations linked to America’s foreign adversaries.
“Michiganders deserve a state government that operates responsibly, cuts back on wasteful spending, prioritizes common goals and delivers results. Unfortunately, the budget passed by Senate Democrats fails to do this. The good news, however, is there is still an opportunity to make things right as the House and Senate work to finalize this legislation. It’s time to get to work and put Michigan first.”
