Every state in the nation has some form of a budget in place -- except Pennsylvania and Michigan

[marmar]

(Michigan Advance) Just two states in the nation have been unable to pass budgets for the 2025-26 fiscal year – and now, they’re staring down significant consequences if their respective legislative bodies fail to act soon.

Pennsylvania has entered its third month without a new budget, while Michigan is just weeks away from a potential shutdown. Meanwhile, lawmakers in other states have figured out their spending plans – or contingencies.

Aside from their current budget woes, the Rust Belt states mirror each other in some unique ways. Both are helmed by Democratic governors with presidential ambitions and national profiles to match in Josh Shapiro and Gretchen Whitmer. They are considered battleground states with recently redrawn legislative districts generally regarded as fairer – and that resulted in split legislatures, two of three nationally. Transportation funding has emerged as the sticking point in the disparate budget negotiations, for very different reasons.

And the stakes in each of the impasses aren’t exactly the same.

A Michigan shutdown would shutter services, inspections

If Michigan’s budget gridlock lasts long enough, the government would shut down in a dramatic fashion, loosely mirroring a federal shutdown that would shutter services and operations. State workers would be left without pay and potentially their benefits. State parks, statewide law enforcement services and seemingly mundane activities like food safety inspections could also be impacted, according to WDIV-TV Detroit. ..............(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2025/09/08/every-state-in-the-nation-has-some-form-of-a-budget-in-place-except-pennsylvania-and-michigan/