Lansing — Michigan House Republicans have accused state department leaders of committing fraud by having thousands of seemingly unfilled positions within their agencies, but budget experts and a batch of reports to which lawmakers have access cast doubt on the legislators' allegations.

On Aug. 26, House Appropriations Chairwoman Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, said her caucus planned to cut what she described as 4,300 "phantom state jobs" and free up $560 million within the state budget. Then, during a Wednesday press conference, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland, said the "phantom employees" amounted to $750 million, a 34% increase from what Bollin claimed.

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