Rep. Shane Hernandez – chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee – said today the Legislature is proceeding with plans to approve a new state budget investing more in roads and schools without tax increases.

The Legislature has scheduled important budget conference committee meetings for next week. Legislators from the House and Senate will meet jointly in these committees to agree on department-level plans, a key step in the process of finalizing a new budget ahead of the Oct. 1 constitutional deadline.

“The governor delayed the entire state budget process by insisting on an unrealistic, wildly unpopular gas tax proposal,” Hernandez said. “She may say she’s not married to her original goal of raising the tax by 45 cents per gallon, but she sure acts like she is – rejecting every alternative we proposed over the summer. We can’t wait on her any longer. We are moving forward as quickly as possible to approve a final budget and send the plan to her desk.”

The plan will include significantly more money for both schools and roads without asking taxpayers to dig deeper into their wallets.

“We’re saving money in several state departments to put more resources into schools and roads – two clear priorities of Michigan taxpayers and families,” Hernandez said.

###