The state budget will make life better for millions of Michiganders, yet the GOP still opposes it
LANSING — Democrats in the Michigan legislature passed a landmark budget today that will lower costs, grow the economy, and invest millions in public safety and education – as well as create dozens of unique programs to uplift the middle class. Republicans, on the other hand, are once again standing against building a brighter future for Michiganders as they vote against the budget.
In response to this historic legislation, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes released the following statement:
“It’s, unfortunately, no surprise that Michigan Republicans are voting against this groundbreaking budget that will grow the middle class and make life better for Michiganders everywhere. Time and time again, Republicans have turned their backs on working families in favor of giving tax breaks to the same corporations that shipped our jobs overseas. Whether it’s lowering costs, growing the economy, or investing in our communities, Michigan Democrats are fighting for Michiganders in every corner of the state.”
Here are some of the key policies these Republicans are opposing:
- Raising the rainy day fund to an all-time high of $2 billion by the end of 2024, setting aside $450 million in a new rainy day fund for schools, and bringing total debt paid down since the Governor took office to $18.1 billion.
- Expanding free pre-K to up to 5,600 kids, saving families $10,000 a year.
- Delivering free breakfast and lunch to all students, saving families over $850 a year, and bolstering educator recruitment and retention, lowering the cost of becoming a teacher.
- Additional resources for vocational and career and technical education and funding Michigan Achievement Scholarship to lower the cost of community, private, or public college by thousands for 80% of students and help 65% attend tuition-free.
- Expanding Healthy Moms Healthy Babies, offering support for new and expecting moms, and improving access to essential health services under Medicaid.
- Funding $400 million for public safety, totaling $1.5 billion since the Governor took office, and delivering record resources to hire, train, and retain local first responders.
- Resources to draw down federal funds to fix the damn roads and expand transit, rail, and marine infrastructure, building more housing and backing more community revitalization projects, continuing to replace lead service lines, and protecting access to safe drinking water.
- Funding the bipartisan Make it in Michigan Fund to win projects creating thousands of manufacturing jobs and bringing supply chains home to Michigan.
- Building on the over $1.5 billion (4th highest in the nation) Michigan will receive through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to expand high-speed internet access to over 200,000 Michiganders in unserved and underserved areas across the state.
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