Fact Squad: No, Michigan Gov. Whitmer did not 'defund the police'

LANSING — Conservative “news” outlets, Republican activists and a GOP super PAC this week falsely accused Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of attempting to “defund the police” by executive order.

The misinformation began spreading Wednesday as Whitmer and GOP legislative leaders rolled out details of a deal to close a $2.2 billion hole in the current-year state budget caused by COVID-19, forced business closures and the economic lockdown.

That deal included several spending cuts, but it did not slash funding for state police and prisons in dramatic fashion, as critics claimed. Even Republican lawmakers, who have feuded with Whitmer over her response to the coronavirus pandemic, rose to her defense.

The claims

“BREAKING NEWS: .@GovWhitmer has defunded the Michigan State Police and the prisons,” Great Lakes News wrote Wednesday afternoon on Twitter. “Executive order 2020-155 slashes tens of millions from the Michigan State Police and Department of Corrections.”

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/fact-squad-no-michigan-gov-whitmer-did-not-defund-police