FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
April 21, 2021
Contact: Sam Inglot, (616) 916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Michiganders Will Pay the Price for GOP’s Political Games
Republican lawmakers let down public by choosing pettiness over effective governing
MICHIGAN – On Tuesday, Republican lawmakers released a budget proposal that includes significant cuts to a wide range of public services, pares down workplace health and safety requirements, and calls for state department budgets to be allocated on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the GOP continues to insist that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer give up her constitutionally granted emergency powers before they will allocate billions of dollars in federal COVID relief money.
“A budget is a statement of values—and evidently, Michigan Republicans value partisan power and petty political games more than they value Michiganders’ well-being,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Their proposal to budget on a quarterly basis, which is woefully inefficient and would make it more difficult for public agencies to do their jobs, is especially upsetting considering the Republican-controlled legislature was happy to budget for two years at a time under the Snyder administration. Not only that, but Republican lawmakers are chipping away at health and safety standards and continuing to hold up much-needed federal tax money that could be used to help our communities through this pandemic. The Michigan GOP has made it abundantly clear that they care far more about sabotaging Gov. Whitmer and seizing more power for themselves than they do about showing up for the people of Michigan.”
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