The unintended result of today’s politics: Michigan government heads for a shutdown

It seems silly to even be talking about this subject, but we’re here, folks. 

State government is around 40 days away from operating without a budget. In my opinion, it’s better than 50/50 that will happen.

Those responsible hope you’ll agree with them on the why: It’s the other person’s fault. The Senate won’t reveal its long-term road funding plan (if it has one). The House won’t reveal its full budget proposal (if it has one). Forging compromise isn’t in the governor’s skill set.

Go ahead. Pick none, one, two or all three of the canned above reasons, but the reality is a bit more nuanced than that.

This isn’t like 2007 or 2009 when state government shut down briefly in the middle of the night as Republican lawmakers sucked up tax-increase votes to balance budgets badly weakened by the Great Recession.

In 2025, a potential government shutdown is the product of a dug-in Democratic Senate majority and a Republican House majority that our hyper-partisan society has fueled. 

The backdrop is this: House Speaker Matt Hall is breaking the rules in crafting a spending plan that’s sailed adrift from the typical Lansing timeline. 

He wants a budget crafted and released when he’s good and ready to reveal it. He’s endeared himself to Gov. “Fix the Damn Roads” Whitmer by calling for a long-term road funding fix, something that has evaded her in her six years in office.

The problem is that Hall is stuck on this idea that they can pull off the long-sought permanent road-funding scheme without a tax increase. (If that were possible, don’t you think Gov. Rick Snyder and a Republican House and Senate in 2017 would have done it?)

The Senate Democrats are trying to call Hall’s bluff by telling him to show how he gets to $3 billion for the roads without a tax increase. He won’t do it. Instead, he’s telling the Senate to come up with a roads plan.

The Senate majority leader and House speaker haven’t talked one-on-one since July 1. There are apparently conversations between staffers and some members, but nothing is really happening.

Hall’s House caucus passed a continuation budget of sorts back in March that funds the bare bones of state government. He’s daring the Senate to pass it by the Sept. 30 budget deadline.

It’s a win for him either way. The Senate can:

1. Give him the budget he wants.
2. Pass his continuation budget. He can take credit for having the foresight to put it out there.
3. Tell Hall to stick it, let the government shut down and blame him. They can do that, but Hall’s anti-government caucus and political base would lionize him for sticking to his guns and beaching a screwed-up government.

For the Republican speaker, he only loses if he caves in and negotiates a traditional budget without a roads plan. He won’t do that.

Shutting down state government suits Hall better than if he doesn’t. Whatever hardship and annoyances come with non-essential state employees not working, he can blame on the Senate Democrats. So, some road construction projects are abandoned temporarily. State parks are closed temporarily. As far as he’s concerned, so what?

The governor OKs the shutdown plans. She can own the aftermath.

The situation is terrible, but it’s a statement of our times.

We’re so exasperated by government dysfunction that we’re expecting it. In a way, we demand it to prove our suspicions right. How else do you explain Republicans celebrating giving the governor only nine bills to sign into public acts this entire year?

They are celebrating the fact that government isn’t working.

We elect people on ideological grounds that are based on an agenda of fear. Who was the last state legislator elected based on a platform of cooperation and collaboration?

Keep thinking. Let me know whom you come up with.

We’re demanding that our elected leaders fight, dig in and stand their ground. 

It shouldn’t be surprising when they do exactly that.

(Kyle Melinn is the editor of the Capitol news service MIRS. You can email him at melinnky@gmail.com.)