Michigan House Speaker Pro-Tempore Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) released the following statement in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Road Ahead” address in Detroit on Wednesday:

“This speech made it clear that the governor is still completely out of touch with the needs and wants of the people she serves. Implying that she’ll prioritize more corporate welfare while people in our state are unable to make ends meet is baffling.

“What’s most disappointing, however, is the way that she continues to lean on her road repair mantra, with nothing to show for it. Despite all her talk about ‘fixing the damn roads’ for the better part of two gubernatorial terms, our local streets and bridges remain in complete disrepair to the point that jokes are made about them throughout the nation. Instead of using the state’s $9 billion surplus to address these issues, Whitmer spent it on corporate giveaways and political pet projects.

“Now, she’s hinting at a tax increase to fix the roads, even though House Republicans have already rolled out a comprehensive plan to repair and upgrade Michigan’s local and county roads without tax hikes. Her callous attitude toward the spending of dollars paid by hardworking Michiganders is truly despicable. The people deserve better from our state’s leader.”