State Rep. Greg Alexander on Thursday voted to safeguard continued funding for essential state services and schools as budget negotiations move forward for the upcoming fiscal year.

The supplemental spending within House Bills 4161-62 acts as a shutdown failsafe in response to partisan fearmongering from some Democrats. It guarantees funding for state services, including prison operations, public safety, court systems, veterans’ homes, and local government operations. The plans also include record per-pupil foundation support for schools, increasing the per-pupil foundation allowance to $10,025, and maintain full funding for special education, school safety and mental health, and retirement obligations.

“These plans make it clear, months before a budget needs to be signed for the upcoming fiscal year, that House Republicans are providing record funding for our kids, giving our communities the resources they need to keep people safe and provide services to residents, and standing up for those who have served us,” said Alexander, of Carsonville. “This is not the House Republican budget. This is a needed first step from House Republicans that shows our families, first responders and veterans are not going to be used as bargaining chips as we focus in the months ahead on a responsible budget that respects taxpayers and makes sense for Michigan.”

Alexander said over the past several weeks, talk of an impasse over what the state budget could look like has fueled counterproductive dialogue regarding a budget stand-off this summer and a potential government shutdown. 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 bills, which received Republican and Democrat support in the House, now move to the Senate for consideration.