LANSING — As Michiganders are set to benefit from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Michigan Democratic Party is calling on all Republican candidates for governor to explain why they have refused to support the bill.
The historic investment is estimated to bring over $7 billion to Michigan and create thousands of good-paying union jobs focused on fixing crumbling bridges and roads.
However, the 12 candidates running for governor have spent their time pushing hyperpartisan attacks rather than substantive solutions to Michigan’s biggest problems. When asked directly, none of them named infrastructure as a top priority. Kevin Rinke couldn’t manage to name any top priorities, telling MLive in September, “I didn’t give you a priority, whatsoever.”
James Craig actively refused to consider making improving Michigan’s infrastructure a priority after weeks of avoiding opportunities to disclose how he would tackle any issue of importance to Michiganders. And back in August, Tudor Dixon panned the infrastructure bill as “fake.”
In contrast, Governor Whitmer recently signed a $70 billion budget that features $229M slated for road and environmental infrastructure to improve or fully replace 100 local bridges, aid local municipalities with future extreme weather preparation, and replace Benton Harbor’s lead water lines. The resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would supplement these improvements.
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“As the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is set to directly benefit Michiganders by creating good-paying jobs and helping fix the state’s roads, bridges and water pipes, it’s shameful that all twelve of the GOP candidates for governor have refused to voice their support.
By contrast, Governor Whitmer has exhibited strong leadership by working with anyone serious about keeping Michiganders first, allowing her to secure a bipartisan budget independent of this federal legislation that will also fund the continued fixing of the damn roads and replacement of lead water lines.”
