LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Senate has voted to spend more for winter road maintenance and to adjust the budget to account for a delay in the expansion of Medicaid. The legislation includes $100 million to fix potholes and help governments with higher-than-usual salting and snow plowing bills. Expanding Medicaid to more low-income adults was supposed to occur in January before senators delayed it until April.
The delay means the state won't save as much money by paying mental health and substance abuse treatment costs with federal Medicaid funds. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Roger Kahn says lawmakers are against the clock because mental health agencies could lose funding in March without the mid-year spending bill.
The bill was approved today on a vote of 32-6. it now moves to the House for consideration.