LANSING – Another $194 million would be spent in federal stimulus dollars to Michigan under a supplemental appropriation passed out of the House Thursday. But some Republicans argued there isn’t enough spending oversight included in the measure.
HB 4308 , which passed on an 81-27 vote, is on the Senate Appropriations Committee schedule for next week.
The supplemental spends $26.7 million on energy efficiency and conservation block grants, $82.1 million on the state energy program, $84.4 million for technology improvements and administration of the Unemployment Insurance Agency, $457,000 for the Grand Rapids Veteran’s Home and $500,000 for food assistance.
Republicans took particular concern with the spending on energy efficiency programs through the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, with the top GOP Appropriations member Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) saying that while the projects may be worthwhile, “We don’t know where this money is going.”
Appropriations chair Rep. George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) countered a list of projects had been submitted to the committee, including projects in Oakland and Wayne counties.
Then Cushingberry argued opposition to the supplemental is borne out of “some people who don’t want President Barack Obama to succeed.”
That comment drew boos from Republican members and Cushingberry was told by Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Chelsea) to keep his comments focused on the supplemental.
Cushingberry went on to say the state already has lost some money due to its delay of the supplemental and urged his colleagues to support it.
The vote board was then opened, but Rep. Kimberly Meltzer (R-Clinton Twp.) asked that it be closed so “we can find out where the money actually goes.”
After some discussion between Republican and Democratic lawmakers and staff, the vote board was re-opened and voting concluded.
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