State Rep. Donni Steele on Wednesday responded to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Road Ahead Speech, where she attempted to spin crumbling infrastructure and failed corporate handouts as positive highlights from her time as governor.

“You can’t drive anywhere in Michigan where the local road ahead doesn’t include potholes,” said Steele, R-Orion Township. “The governor used this speech as an attempt to justify the fact that she lost interest on important issues, regardless of how she tries to define her own legacy.”

Steele noted that House Republicans announced a plan two months ago that would secure $2.7 billion for roads without raising taxes. Just last week, economists in state government estimated the state would have around $1 billion in additional revenue for the upcoming budget year, which Republicans argue should be spent on a roads plan.

A major focus of the Republican plan is redirecting funding away from corporate welfare programs and into critical infrastructure projects. The budget earmarks for the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Fund (SOAR) and the Revitalization and Placemaking Fund (RAP) are both set to expire after the 2024-2025 fiscal year – clearing the way for $600 million to be spent on infrastructure instead of corporate handouts.

Steele said the failure to secure results highlights why the SOAR and RAP programs should no longer receive automatic funding within the budget. House Republicans believe the governor, at minimum, should be required to make the case for new incentive funding on the merit of each potential project.

The Detroit News recently reported the governor and her administration have offered over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to at least eight large corporations since 2021. Many companies continue to drag their feet on bringing business to Michigan, underscoring the undesirable business climate fostered by the governor.

“Businesses face a low median income, high unemployment, and a declining population, which all serve as indications the governor’s strategies are not working,” Steele said. “We need to cultivate our existing businesses by redirecting tax dollars away from handouts and back into the infrastructure improvements that matter most.”

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