BUDGET UPDATE (3:01 pm) MI House passes transportation bill

By AP

LANSING, MI – The Michigan House has passed a transportation spending bill that includes about $1.2 billion in cuts from the current year.

The bill passed 108-0, with two lawmakers excused. It now goes back to the Senate to await a vote giving it immediate effect.

The measure includes about $10 million in cuts to public transportation, including Amtrak.

The bill would give the transportation department $3.3 billion to spend overall in state and federal funds.

The bill cuts the amount set aside for the Detroit River International Crossing to $2.5 million and bans any activities committing the state to building the Canada-U.S. bridge.

Lawmakers are racing to balance the state's budget by midnight Wednesday. Michigan faces a $2.8 billion shortfall in its next budget.