State Rep. Lynn Afendoulis of Grand Rapids Township, chair of the Michigan House Tax Policy Committee, today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s comments on budget negotiations:

“The Michigan Legislature has been working hard to find bipartisan solutions to fix our roads and resolve budget negotiations. All the governor has done is promote a 45-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase.

“Her gas tax increase is regressive and hurts those who can least afford it.

“But apparently, she still is hellbent on it. So why doesn’t she find a representative to introduce it for her in the Legislature? I would support putting it up for a vote so she can see for herself it has no support. Then maybe she would get serious and consider our alternatives that respect Michigan families and their budgets while addressing important needs such as roads and schools — without going to taxpayers and asking for ridiculous rate hikes.

“Our House budget plan provides more than $800 million a year in additional funding for roads and $226 million more for K-12 schools without asking taxpayers to fork over more money. And, unlike the governor’s proposal, all the money paid at the pump goes to roads.”

“Those are the facts, and no amount of scare tactics from the governor can change them.”