State Rep. Pauline Wendzel released the following statement on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget:

“I was looking forward to hearing the Governor’s responsible budget proposal.  I’m still waiting,” Wendzel said.  “After two years of rhetoric about ‘Fixing the Damn Roads,’ I was incredibly disappointed to see the “plan” that the Governor put forward. If her tax increase were to pass, Michiganders would be paying the highest fuel tax in the Midwest as well as the highest car insurance rates in the nation.  I want our state to be number one in many categories, but this is not one of them.  It’s clear that the legislature will have to come up with a real solution to this problem.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to put forward a responsible plan that invests in our roads while protecting the wallets of hardworking Michiganders.”

The Representative also spoke about the roads package that was signed into law back in 2015.  “I would also like to point out that there is already the start of a plan in place.  Back in 2015, the Legislature committed to increasing spending on repairing our infrastructure. About $600 million was added to road repairs in 2018 alone — without raising taxes or fees. All said, Michigan is projected to spend well over $4 billion on road and bridge repairs in the current fiscal year – the most in state history. I am confident we can create a fair deal that Michigan drivers deserve.”

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