By State Rep. Mike Mueller, of Linden

The Legislature exists to be the voice of Michigan’s people and decide how taxpayer dollars are spent. Unfortunately, our governor circumvented that process by vetoing several items outlined in the Legislature-approved budget sent to her for approval in late September.

The Legislature’s budget invested more money than ever before in roads and schools without raising taxes, but Gov. Whitmer chose to reject this plan, despite her campaign promise to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges. By clinging to her 45-cent per gallon gas tax increase, she showed an unwillingness to compromise with the Legislature and, worse, to listen to the people of Michigan who resoundingly opposed the proposed tax increase.

In total, Governor Whitmer vetoed $375 million for road repairs and $128 million from the school aid fund.

What’s more, she has taken money away from various programs helping the most vulnerable people in our local communities, from children to veterans, law enforcement, and seniors. In all, the 147 line-item vetoes totaled roughly $947 million.

In response, the House and Senate together have introduced 23 supplemental appropriation bills to reinstate some of the most critical programs that were vetoed. Of those bills, I introduced House Bill 5074, which would restore $13 million for the secondary road patrol program. The program’s funding is used by county sheriffs to hire additional personnel to patrol secondary roads throughout the state. Furthermore, the secondary road patrol program is mainly funded using restricted dollars, and the governor’s veto puts public safety in jeopardy by allowing these funds to go unused. Last year, Oakland County received $803,605 and Genesee County received $416,100. That’s funding our counties won’t see this year, and without it, our local sheriff’s offices will be forced to lay off deputies.

My plan is all about restoring essential funding for public safety across Michigan. As a retired sheriff’s deputy, I know firsthand how critical the secondary road patrol program is for rural communities. The safety of our communities should never have been held hostage for a widely unpopular gas tax increase.

The governor has the chance to reverse course, do the right thing, and adequately restore funding to this vital program. I hope she takes the opportunity to do so. In the meantime, I will continue to fight for the best interests of Genesee and Oakland County taxpayers and their families.

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