Legislator: People want a completed budget, not more bickering

State Rep. Jack O’Malley, of Lake Ann, this week joined the Michigan House of Representatives in the passage of a plan to restore budget funding vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year.

The governor vetoed nearly $1 billion in Legislature-approved funding when she signed the budget plan for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

The approved plan would restore the most critical of those vetoed funds – protecting children, seniors and communities in Northern Michigan. Essential funding for secondary road patrol programs throughout the state will mean safer neighborhood streets and local sheriff’s offices aren’t forced to lay off deputies.

“People are saying very simply – get this done,” O’Malley said. “I hope the governor has listened, because her attempts to shock paddle an unpopular gas tax increase to life with vetoes on critical funding has not worked. It’s only jeopardized people’s immediate futures in the Fighting 101st district. So I’m going to fight to see as much of this funding restored as possible.”

The plan also includes:

• $1 million for the Autism Navigator program helping connect families with services.

• $350,000 for a new autism intervention program to help infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

• $7 million for Michigan’s rural and island school districts that serve more isolated populations, including many across Northern Michigan.

• Restored tuition grant money for 17,000 independent college students.

• $10 million for school safety grants.

• $400,000 to bolster care for Michigan’s Alzheimer and dementia community.

• $16.6 million for rural hospitals and additional money for critical access hospitals serving Medicaid and low-income patients, including Munson Healthcare Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort.

• $10.7 million to improve pediatric psychiatric services

• Nearly $2 million to continue the fight against opioid drug abuse

The plan now advances to the Senate for consideration.