Reaction is pouring in from multiple people and organizations following Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget release today. Here’s a sampling for you from some of those who have spoken out:
Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber:
“Today’s budget shows that Governor Snyder and Lansing Republicans care more about helping their wealthy corporate campaign donors than regular working people. It’s time to get our priorities straight and build an economy that works for everyone, including the middle class.
“We need a state budget that will create good-paying jobs for working families by ending tax breaks for corporations that send Michigan jobs overseas. And we need a real plan to fix our crumbling roads and infrastructure that makes corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.
“But after six years of total control in Lansing, it’s clear that Republicans still don’t get it. They gave corporations a $2 billion tax break, while raising taxes on seniors and working families. And Republicans passed a roads package that raised taxes and fees on regular families, making it more expensive to own a car. Meanwhile, our roads are still falling apart and getting worse every single day.
“This budget should serve as a stark reminder to all working families that Governor Snyder and Lansing Republicans are not on your side.”
State Representative Kim LaSata of Bainbridge Township, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education:
“I appreciate all the hard work Gov. Snyder has put into his proposed budget and look forward to working with my colleagues on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to craft a responsible, effective state budget.
“I am encouraged by the proposal to invest more money into higher education and will work hard as chair to ensure these dollars are spent in an efficient and fair manner. Michigan’s colleges and universities have still not fully returned to their pre-recession funding levels and it is my goal to see these institutions made whole again using dollars tied to performance. This will serve to keep tuition increases down and ultimately allow more students to pursue their educational dream.”
Michigan Freedom Fund President Terri Reid:
“Governor Snyder and lawmakers deserve a lot of credit for their work delivering balanced budgets, on time, each year since taking office. While there’s a lot to like in the Governor’s budget, the fact is that state spending has skyrocketed in the last 7 years, and Michigan workers deserve a break. Income tax relief should be a legislative priority in 2017.”
“The state House and Senate each opened 2017 with bills to repeal the state’s income tax. Senate Bill 4, introduced by Senator Jack Brandenburg, would repeal the income tax. House Bill 4001, alternate legislation repealing the state’s income tax, was introduced by Representative Lee Chatfield.”
“Workers have made Michigan the comeback state. They deserve to keep more of the money they work so hard to earn.”
Dan Quisenberry, President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), the state charter school association:
“All students deserve to be funded equitably, no matter what type of innovative school their parents have chosen for them. We need to fund kids and not institutions. A child certainly shouldn’t be punished because they’re in an innovative school that works best for them.
“Funding institutions based on cost stifles innovation, and we’ve seen unmistakably that innovation is what leads to greater student achievement. We need to keep our focus on student outcomes, not funding institutions.”
Michigan League for Public Policy President & CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs:
“The governor’s budget today is very positive and includes money for many of the programs and services that help struggling workers and families. The League has been a champion for leveraging federal funds to support important state services, and the budget includes $6.8 million to draw down the federal money needed to keep the Heat and Eat program going and $8.4 million in state funds for child care to secure much-needed federal funding. The budget upholds continued funding for the Healthy Michigan Plan, which provides healthcare for more than 600,000 Michiganians with low incomes under the Affordable Care Act, and we appreciate Governor Snyder’s continued commitment to protecting that successful program in Michigan.”
“We are pleased to see an increase in school funding for at-risk students to help address the extra support that students struggling with poverty and hunger and toxic stress need, and a $60-per-child increase in the state’s school clothing allowance that helps provide clothes for children living in families with low incomes. Today’s budget included funding for the Part-Time Independent Student Grant to help adult students pursue a college degree, something the League has been advocating for years. And we appreciate the governor’s continued call for investment in infrastructure and support for the people of Flint to help them recover and get clean water.”
“But all of these encouraging investments could disappear tomorrow if the Legislature goes against the governor’s budget and cuts the state income tax, eroding $250 million to $9 billion from the state’s funds. Kansas and several other states have already made this mistake and suffered severe consequences, and now Republican legislators there are scrambling to undo the policy. If legislators really want to help the people of Michigan, especially those who are barely getting by, they should pass these positive investments, not something that will undermine them.”
Joshua Talison, Board President of the Middle Cities Education Association – a consortium representing more than 30 urban school districts – and Superintendent of Beecher Community Schools:
“This announcement today is a leap forward in finally addressing the way we fund schools in Michigan, focusing first on poverty, which is the root of many educational challenges in our state, especially among urban districts. While we still have more work to do, this investment begins to fundamentally address the single biggest problem schools and communities in Michigan face – we must continue to shift our state’s resources to districts who need additional assistance to educate low income students so they keep up academically with their peers.”
“Governor Snyder deserves credit for his school budget priorities today – it’s clear to us that this finance study isn’t just going to sit on a shelf in Lansing, but rather, its recommendations are serving as a critical roadmap for budget decision making. We’re thrilled the Governor recognizes this important challenge and is taking deliberate steps to fix school finance disparities that have existed for decades.”
State Senator John Proos of St. Joseph:
“The governor’s budget recommendation is a good start in the process, and I look forward to passing a budget that enables us to continue to attract new jobs and investment to Michigan, provide vital services and meet our most pressing challenges — all while living within our means.”
“Paying down debt and making key investments in education, infrastructure and talent development will all pay huge dividends in our future.”
“Reducing our long-term liabilities will benefit generations to come and ensure that we can fulfill our obligations to our retirees.”
“I applaud the governor’s continued focus on career and technical education and increased training to help fill the job skills gap. This includes funds for new equipment and a 32 percent increase for the Going Pro program to help ensure all Michigan residents are given the tools they need to meet our growing skilled workforce needs.”
“As a member of the state’s MiSTEM Advisory Council, I will continue working to help prepare all Michigan children for success so they can achieve the American Dream.”
“While we’ve accomplished much during that last six years, we must continue to ensure that our tax dollars are used effectively and efficiently to support the most important functions of state government — educating our children, protecting our communities and creating an environment for economic growth and job creation.”
