After hearing a presentation on the upcoming executive budget recommendations on Wednesday, Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) expressed his concern over the misguided priorities within Governor Whitmer’s new spending plan. The executive recommendation is $1 billion larger than last year’s budget. This increase does not include sufficient funding for roads and infrastructure improvement, but rather, uses those taxpayer dollars to enlarge Michigan’s bureaucracy.

“While I share Governor Whitmer’s priorities: making the cost of living more affordable, our schools better, and our communities safer, I am not convinced that her plan will bring us closer to any of these goals.” Robinson said. “Last year’s excessive spending plan burned through our treasury’s $9 billion surplus and caused income taxes to go up by nearly 5%. Instead of spending away even more taxpayer dollars this year, we should focus on delivering practical improvements for Michigan families. As a first-year member of the legislature, I know that repeating the same mistakes from last term will not turn this state around.”

Despite the spending increase, this year’s executive recommendations include no mention of extra funding for critical elements of infrastructure like road repair, while proposing to add another 883 full-time government employees to Michigan’s already bloated bureaucracy. During the joint appropriations committee to hear the governor’s budget recommendations, Robinson asked about water infrastructure, referencing the several water mains that have broken in Utica including one as recently as last week. As a member of the full House Appropriations Committee and four different Subcommittees, Robinson will have a significant role in deciding budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

“It is certainly possible to increase funding for roads and infrastructure repair without increasing taxes, and I know this because House Republicans have already introduced a plan to do exactly that,” Robinson said. “We do not need more bureaucrats, we need to fix our roads, sewers, and energy grid. Instead of continuing reckless, unsustainable government spending, we should focus on the issues that matter to the people we represent. With my new seat at the appropriations table, I aim to do exactly that. I eagerly await my democrat counterparts to join me.”