Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a $70 billion budget on Wednesday. The spending marks an 11.5 percent increase compared to the last budget. “This is a budget that puts Michiganders first. We are coming together to grow the middle class, support small businesses, and invest in our communities,” Whitmer said in a statement. “This is a comprehensive budget that builds on the school aid budget I signed this summer, which made the largest investment in K-12 education in Michigan history without raising taxes.” The budget signing two days before the new fiscal year shows a change of pace after 18 months of partisan bickering between Democrats and Republicans over COVID-19 policy. The budget focuses on child care, education, infrastructure, and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. About $1.4 billion of child care spending is expected to qualify 105,000 more children for child care by increasing income eligibility to 185 percent of the federal poverty level through fiscal year 2023, then 160 percent ongoing in …