Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed nearly $1 billion of the state budget in order to pressure the legislature to pass her 45-cent gas tax increase.
October 9, 2019
State Legislators Should Announce Whether They Support Funding Critical Services Vetoed By Gov. Whitmer
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed nearly $1 billion of the state budget in order to pressure the legislature to pass her 45-cent gas tax increase. These cuts have left many Michiganders wondering where their state legislators stand on restoring funding for these critical services. The Michigan House and Senate have introduced new legislation to restore funding for many of the services Whitmer vetoed including autism services, local law enforcement, charter schools, rural healthcare, and opioid addiction services among many others.
“Michiganders deserve to know where their state lawmakers stand on restoring critical funds cut by Gov. Whitmer to use as leverage to increase the gas tax by 45-cents,” Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action said. “Michigan Rising Action calls on all legislators to publicly state if they support restoring these funds – and if not, explain why. Using children with autism, students who attend charter schools, public safety response and rural healthcare services as leverage for a gas tax increase is disturbing and not how the state budget priorities should be decided.”
Michigan Rising Action will begin monitoring each state legislator’s position on restoring critical services and how the cuts will impact their district.