State Rep. Parker Fairbairn this week voted in support of key measures to prevent a future government shutdown. House Bills 4161 and 4162 safeguard continued funding for essential state services and schools.

“This Shutdown Prevention Plan ensures that, should budget negotiations between the legislature and the administration falter, there is a plan on the table that guarantees schools and other essential services are not punished,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “Our caucus intends to responsibly reduce overall spending in the coming fiscal year, and we want to avoid having funding for essential services used as pressure points to continue over-funding less vital services. Our legislative action earlier this week takes that scenario off the table.”

The bipartisan legislation, known as the House Republican Shutdown Prevention Plan, guarantees funding for state services, including prison operations, public safety, court systems, veterans’ homes, and local government operations. It also includes record per-pupil foundation support for schools, increasing the per-pupil foundation allowance to $10,025, and maintains full funding for special education, school safety and mental health, and retirement obligations.

“This is not the House Republican full budget proposal – no programs or services have been cut in these bills, and anyone trying to say that we have done so is attempting to manufacture the very political chaos we’re seeking to prevent,” Fairbairn said. “This is the first step of a months-long budget process. We’re just making it crystal clear from the get-go; House Republicans will not allow our schoolchildren and first responders to be used as pawns in political games. Our essential services will be funded, and our plan does exactly that.”

Fairbairn, who took office in January, said that some in Lansing have been fixated on the idea that the state was on track for a budget stand-off this summer. He indicated that such inflammatory and even dangerous dialogue creates a hostile environment filled with uncertainty. The actions taken by the House this week are intended to temper that uncertainty and help ensure a more smooth and fiscally responsible budget negotiation process.

The House and Senate will continue working on a full budget plan in the coming months.

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