Whitmer looks to cut millions in funding for watchdog group that gave her failing grades

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) is looking to cut more than $8 million from the budget of a state government watchdog that has given her administration failing grades.

The Michigan governor is seeking to reduce the budget of the office of the auditor general, a nonpartisan watchdog that found several problems with state agencies, including the state’s Department of Education , which failed to fingerprint 4% of its staff.

Auditor General Doug Ringler requested information about the governor’s request to pull some of its funding in a letter to state lawmakers. But the lawmakers responded that it was still early in the budget’s legislative process and would look into the concerns.

“We received no advance notice of the executive budget reductions and no direct feedback regarding the reason behind them,” Ringler wrote, according to Center Square. “I look forward to meeting with you or other designated personnel to discuss any questions you may have and to work toward restoring our funding so we can continue to provide valuable oversight and partnership in an independent, objective, and transparent manner.”

The letter comes after the auditor general’s office also found the Unemployment Insurance Agency recently failed to perform background checks on employees in its database, and that critical infrastructure for hospitals need to be inspected more frequently.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Michigan House Republican leader Matt Hall said he opposes the proposed budget cuts, and urged his fellow lawmakers to reject the proposal.

“Gov. Whitmer’s administration has received multiple failing grades from this investigative office throughout her tenure, and to keep her future aspirations intact, she wants to make sure no one is checking her homework,” Hall said in a statement. “The Legislature must reject the governor’s cuts and fully fund the auditor general’s vital work — shedding sunshine on state government and helping the people of Michigan and their elected representatives know what works and what’s broken.”