State House Approves Budget

From the Associated Press — The Michigan House has approved a $56.7 billion state budget after an agreement was finalized between Republican leaders and Governor Rick Snyder’s administration. The GOP-led chamber voted 64-43 for a general budget Tuesday and 72-35 for the education budget. The Senate is expected to take final votes Thursday before the legislature’s summer recess. Majority Republicans say the state would spend about 2 percent more in the fiscal year starting in October, if federal dollars are factored in. They emphasize that overall spending would rise no more than inflation and be down slightly in the general fund. Democrats say money should be diverted from savings to fix deteriorating roads because a GOP-passed 2015 transportation funding plan is being phased in too slowly.