Michigan GOP Lawmakers Slam Whitmer's $88B Budget Proposal

Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt calls the governor's plan a "non-starter" that relies too heavily on tax increases.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's $88 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year is facing strong opposition from Republican lawmakers, including state Senator Aric Nesbitt. Nesbitt, the Senate Minority Leader and a gubernatorial candidate, criticized the plan for growing the state's budget from $55 billion when Whitmer took office to nearly $90 billion, largely through new taxes and tax increases.

Why it matters

The battle over the state budget is a key political fight in Michigan, with the Republican-controlled legislature at odds with the Democratic governor over spending priorities and the use of tax increases. This clash highlights the deep partisan divide in the state and the challenges Whitmer faces in getting her agenda enacted.

The details

Nesbitt said the governor's proposed tax on cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches, as well as a $0.25 per wager tax on sports betting, would raise $332 million for the state. However, Nesbitt opposes all of Whitmer's proposed tax increases and vows to fight them. He argues that the state should focus on economic growth and education rather than raising taxes, which he says will make Michigan less competitive.

  • Governor Whitmer unveiled her $88 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year on February 16, 2026.

The players

Gretchen Whitmer

The Democratic governor of Michigan who proposed the $88 billion state budget.

Aric Nesbitt

The Republican state senator and Senate Minority Leader who is a gubernatorial candidate and has criticized Whitmer's budget proposal as a "non-starter" that relies too heavily on tax increases.

Matt Hall

The Republican Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives who says there will be no tax increases in the final state budget.

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What they’re saying

“People are hurting around the state. Families are, job creators are, and our kids are. We've got to shake up the state of school in Lansing so that we can make it more affordable for Michigan families. This budget doesn't do that.”

— Aric Nesbitt, State Senator and Senate Minority Leader (wsjm.com)

“The time for tax increases is not now. Michigan's unaffordable with the highest energy cost, highest insurance cost in the Midwest, which leads to high food costs. We need to make it more competitive so that people can actually make it here in Michigan.”

— Aric Nesbitt, State Senator and Senate Minority Leader (wsjm.com)

What’s next

The Michigan legislature will now begin the process of negotiating and approving a final state budget, with Republican lawmakers vowing to block any tax increases proposed by Governor Whitmer.

The takeaway

This budget battle highlights the deep partisan divide in Michigan politics, with the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled legislature at odds over the use of tax increases and spending priorities. The outcome will have significant implications for the state's fiscal health and economic competitiveness.