LANSING -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s executive directive that restricts spending for Michigan’s two veterans homes may or may not be out of line. It all depends on who is being asked.

Rep. Michael Sak, D-Grand Rapids, said he’s outraged that the governor thinks she has the authority to determine how private funds are spent at the state-run facilities.

“We should have zero say in those monies,” he said.

And Rep. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, said, “I fully agree the state must reduce its spending to address the financial crunch Michigan’s budget is in.

“But government shouldn’t try to take money it’s not entitled to, especially when those dollars have been donated specifically to help improve the quality of life and care our military veterans receive for the service they’ve given us and our country,” Emmons said.

However, Maj. Dawn Dancer, public affairs officer for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the governor’s budget-cutting order doesn’t apply to the $1 million in privately donated funds that go to the homes in Grand Rapids and Marquette.

The restriction applies only to the money the homes receive from the state to pay for staff and maintenance.

“It’s complicated,” Dancer said of the controversial executive directive.

“Our priority has always been the health and care of the veterans. We had to do what we were told to,” she said.

The order resulted in the homes canceling carnivals, volunteer dinners and extra outings said Dancer.

Dancer said those activities were deemed non-essential and that there’s not enough state money to pay for the staff needed to facilitate those events.

The D.J. Jacobetti Home in Marquette has over 200 residents and the Grand Rapids home has about 720 residents.

The homes require one staff person to be present for every five veterans.

Dancer said, “Our goal is keeping the veterans active and happy seven days a week. The only way we can do that is by cutting the more costly events.”

Dancer emphasized that the cuts were hard to make.

“We know how much it means to the veterans. Most everyone in the department is in the military or a veteran. It’s like taking care of our own family, and we sincerely hope that we can reinstate these events next year and get back on track,” she said.

Robert Weiss, state adjutant and quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Michigan, agreed with Dancer.

“We want veterans to have every possible convenience making them as comfortable and happy as they can be,” Weiss said.

Weiss said he wishes the VFW could pay for such events and the necessary staff, but “sadly it’s not that simple.”

Emmons said confusion over the governor’s order should have been resolved earlier.

“I understand now what the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is saying, but I’m mystified as to why it wasn’t cleared up in the first place. I still believe the restrictions should bear some scrutiny,” she said.

Dancer said she doesn’t blame the veterans for being upset about the budget cuts. “We need to do what we are told however, and the state said to reduce spending,” she said.

The governor’s directive stemmed from the state’s budget woes as a way to help reduce the deficit.