FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
November 4, 2019
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
GOP Legislators Must Work with Governor on Budget Negotiations
As lawmakers gear up for a three-week hunting vacation, the budget remains unsettled
MICHIGAN — Progress Michigan released the following statement regarding the fact that Michigan continues to be at a supplemental budget standstill as the Republican-led legislature refuses to negotiate with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Deer camp season is upon the state and lawmakers will likely leave the Capitol for weeks to hunt whitetail while the state’s budget future remains uncertain.
“The only ‘bucks’ Republicans in the legislature should be worried about are the ones that should be going to our roads, water and schools. Rather than sitting in a deer blind, lawmakers like Lee Chatfield and Mike Shirkey need to be sitting at the negotiating table with Gov. Whitmer,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “They can try to spin the blame all they want, but the fact is Republicans failed to act on the budget in a timely manner, ran off to Mackinac Island to party with Pence and are currently getting ready to head out of town on yet another break as people and programs languish in budget purgatory. It’s time for Chatfield and Shirkey to act like adults and take their responsibilities to the people of Michigan seriously. They shouldn’t go anywhere until the budget is finalized.”
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