Lansing — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is scheduled to travel to Japan next month, just days before an Oct. 1 budget deadline that could lead to a shutdown of state government.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s website features a page that says Whitmer will “share her vision for U.S.-Japan collaboration” at an event on Sept. 5 at a Marriott hotel in Nagoya, Japan. And two sources who had knowledge of the plans but spoke on the condition of anonymity said Whitmer was expected to be on the trade mission to Asia for about two weeks next month.
It wasn’t clear Thursday when the Democratic governor would depart for the trip. And a spokeswoman for Whitmer didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
For months, Whitmer’s office, the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-controlled House have been struggling to reach a deal on Michigan’s budget, which provides funding for state departments, K-12 schools, road projects and local governments for the rapidly approaching fiscal year.
The Legislature failed to meet its self-imposed July 1 budget deadline.
The next fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, meaning if there’s no budget approved by then, a partial government shutdown would happen because there would be no funding allocated for continued state operations. While Whitmer could participate in negotiations over the phone while in Japan, her expected absence might complicate the budget talks.
Robert McCann, executive director of The K-12 Alliance of Michigan, said Whitmer has a team of budget officials who can continue the work in Lansing if the governor is away.
But McCann, who advocates on behalf of Michigan schools, said state leaders need to show more urgency.
“We need there to be a focus on this right now,” McCann said.
Senate Democrats held a press conference on Wednesday when Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, called on House Republicans to “come to the negotiating table immediately.”
“The stakes could not be higher,” Brinks said. “While the new school year is already underway for districts all over the state, schools still do not have the security of state funding to responsibly determine their own budgets.”
House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, advocated at length during a Thursday press conference for Senate Democrats to “empower” Whitmer to negotiate on their behalf and said he hoped the governor would “drag” Brinks to the budget negotiation table. When he was asked how Whitmer’s trip to Japan would affect those negotiations, Hall said he was not aware she would be traveling.
“The governor has taken a few trips during the budget conversations,” Hall said. “And I’ve found her to be very available and engaged, talking to me, when she’s on those trips.”
In an email, Takeshi Hamada, the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, said he was “unable to comment” on Whitmer’s plans to travel to Japan.
The scheduled venture would be Whitmer’s fourth international trip of 2025.
In June, she went on a week-long trade mission to Australia as lawmakers were attempting to meet their initial July 1 budget deadline.
“I will continue to work with anyone and travel anywhere to enhance Michigan’s leadership in our core strategic industries and bring opportunities back home to Michiganders,” Whitmer said in a statement in June about her trip to Australia.
In March, Whitmer led a delegation to the United Kingdom and Ireland. In February, she went to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
In 2024, she traveled to Spain for a three-day investment mission in late November.
Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, targeted Whitmer’s scheduled trip in a post on X.
“Still no state budget, yet Gov. Whitmer is going on another international trip,” Nesbitt wrote.
Staff Writer Beth LeBlanc and Politics Editor Chad Livengood contributed.
cmauger@detroitnews.com
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