LANSING, MI (Aug. 27, 2025) — Long after the statutory July 1 deadline, House Republicans finally passed their egregious, half-baked budget plan yesterday, proposing catastrophic cuts to the Michigan Dept. of Corrections (MDOC) and state judiciary system that threaten our public safety. In response, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.) has released the following statement:
“Our judiciary branch and state corrections department are tasked with ensuring our public safety and access to an effective legal system — but they cannot adequately serve our residents if they don’t have the resources they need,” said Chair Shink. “House Republicans have proposed millions of dollars in funding cuts to MDOC and the legal system, gutting support for criminal justice programs designed to prevent crime, taking corrections officers out of our prisons, and eliminating funding for efficient court operations. This is nowhere near the responsible state budget we’ve long been calling on the House to pass, and I won’t stop fighting until we’ve reached a budget deal that keeps us safe while being fiscally responsible.”
Months ago, Chair Shink and Senate Democrats successfully passed a fiscally responsible budget that fully funds MDOC and the judiciary branch, equipping them with the resources needed to strengthen public safety and ensure our courts work for everyone. To learn more about Senate Democrats’ responsible budget proposal, visit SenateDems.com/budget.
Sen. Shink is proud to serve Michigan’s 14th Senate District, which includes parts of Ann Arbor and all of Dexter, Chelsea, and Jackson City, among many townships.