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LaFave: Governor’s budget cuts to be reversed, unilateral power restricted
RELEASE|December 10, 2019

State Rep. Beau LaFave and the Michigan House today finished voting to reverse the governor’s politically motivated budget cuts to various local government initiatives, such as public safety, veterans services and other vital programs – ending a budget stalemate.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cut nearly $1.6 billion in Legislature-approved funding. The House votes today advance the chamber’s efforts to restore much of this critical funding statewide, fending off the governor’s desperate attempts to force her proposed 45-cent per gallon gas tax hike.

“Never did I imagine we’d still be here in December working to reverse the governor’s budget cuts. Yet here we are, restoring funding for critical programs across Michigan the governor held hostage for two months – all for her reckless 45-cent gas tax increase,” said LaFave, of Iron Mountain. “While these cuts should have never happened, I’m glad we were all able to come together to reinstate funding for our military heroes, law enforcement, rural students and hospitals without costing hard-working families more at the gas pump.”

A measure sponsored by LaFave – restoring $4 million to the County Veteran Service Fund to help connect veterans with the benefits they have earned throughout their military service – was incorporated into the finalized budget plan. LaFave said his plan will better connect veterans to county veteran service officers and accredited case agents, especially in rural parts of Michigan where access is vitally important.

Other key components of the finalized budget plan include:

  • Reinstating $13 million to programs that fund law enforcement services.
  • Restoring over $27 million to the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) program. The program compensates local governments for land the state does not pay taxes on, such as forest reserves and swamps.
  • Over $17 million for the medical school loan repayment program for primary care residents working in underserved areas. LaFave said this will attract more medical professionals to set up practice in the Upper Peninsula.
  • Roughly $3 million for the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to hire additional employees to help implement the car insurance reforms signed into law earlier this year.
  • Nearly $60 million for rural health care and critical access hospitals.
  • Restoring $600,000 to local governments for search and rescue, medical support, damage assessment and assistance during natural or man-made disasters.
  • An additional $7 million for Michigan’s rural and isolated school districts to assist with transportation costs.

The plan also addresses the State Administrative Board Whitmer used to unilaterally shift $625 million in taxpayer money without oversight or accountability.

“I don’t care if the governor is a Republican or Democrat, we must ensure something like this never happens again,” LaFave said. “Our system of democracy consists of three separate but equal branches of government. No leader should ever be able to unilaterally shift Legislature-approved funding for their own personal priorities. Enacting this common-sense solution will reiterate to Gov. Whitmer that she is in fact governor, not emperor.”

The budget plan will soon be headed to the governor’s desk for consideration.

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