Rep. Greg Markkanen today said he is troubled by Gov. Whitmer’s decision to veto parts of the Legislature’s budget, including $375 million in additional funding for road repairs and $128 million in additional funding for Michigan students.

“The governor campaigned on a promise to fix roads and help schools – and that’s what the people expect and deserve,” said Markkanen, of Hancock. “The governor’s vetoes make it clear that she’d rather increase taxes than address the problem the way our residents want us to: By spending the resources they already provide more wisely.”

The budget plan approved by the Legislature included record funding levels for road repairs and K-12 classrooms, without a tax increase. Late Monday, the governor issued 147 line-item vetoes to key programs in the Legislature’s plan. In addition to road and school funding, the vetoes included hits to skilled trades training, veterans’ services and the Pure Michigan tourism campaign.

“We sent the governor a responsible budget that made investments to the things most important to Upper Peninsula families without asking them to pay more in taxes,” Markkanen said. “The right time for the governor to address her concerns would have been during budget negotiations with the Legislature. Instead, she walked away from the table. I urge her to start putting people before politics so we can get a long-term road funding plan in place that doesn’t rely on a tax increase drivers cannot afford.”

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