LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s July 1 budget deadline is approaching quickly, and there’s still no agreement between the GOP-led Michigan House, the Democratic-controlled Senate, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

House Democrats joined education leaders in Detroit on Monday at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Michigan headquarters after recent comments from House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) suggested budget negotiations could extend beyond the statutory July 1 deadline. Democrats, including Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit), pressed their Republican colleagues to pass an on-time budget that provides stability for schools.

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The 2025 budget process was prolonged and painful as lawmakers blew through multiple deadlines. That triggered the passage of stopgap funding legislation to prevent a state government shutdown. The budget was finalized and signed into law on Oct. 5.

While the budget deadline loomed, Gov. Whitmer traveled overseas in September and left the House and Senate to work out the details in her absence.

Republicans said history is repeating itself this year, as Gov. Whitmer is visiting Europe this week on an “investment mission.”

Rep. Matt Maddock, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, called on the governor to return home.

“Gov. Whitmer is AWOL yet again, spending nearly half of the time between now and then overseas on her third European excursion of the year and holding up budget negotiations,” he said. “The House passed a budget months ago, and we want to get this done. Michigan taxpayers expect a governor at the negotiating table, not globe-trotting across Europe at the worst possible time.”