LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she will not cede her authority to issue certain COVID-19 restrictions, calling Republicans’ attempt to hold back federal pandemic relief funding unless she changes course “cruel and reckless.”

The Democratic governor urged GOP lawmakers to “shift their perspective to looking forward” and stop “digging in” on their continued opposition to state health department orders that, while loosened, still limit capacity at restaurants to 25% and prohibit youth contact sports to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, before Whitmer gave a State of the State speech in which she sought “common ground” on $5.6 billion of COVID-19 spending that would help with vaccine distribution and assist schools and businesses, Senate Republicans blocked 13 of her appointees to make a point about not having input into management of the crisis. And House Republicans linked approval of $2.3 billion in federal and state K-12 funding to empowering counties — not the state — to decide about restricting sports and in-person instruction.

“These were federal dollars that were sent to our state. They were supported by our bipartisan congressional delegation,” the governor told reporters. “To hold those things hostage to try to change the balance of power in Lansing is just cruel and reckless.”

House Speaker Jason Wentworth called his GOP caucus’ plan “a start” and he denied that the caucus was trying to strip power from Whitmer or the health department. It is “reckless” and “cruel,” he said, for restaurants to be given no precise metrics that must be reached before the further easing of restrictions.

“What we are trying to do is to get kids into the classroom, get kids into seats,” he said.

The House proposal would give additional state aid to schools that commit to offering an in-person instruction option by Feb. 15. Whitmer has recommended that schools do so by March 1.