“By pausing all this funding and reviewing these projects, we can separate effective uses of tax dollars from ineffective,” Beson said. “I will soon be introducing a legislative spending request for every single dollar of the original $1.6 million that was to go to the Bay City Bridge. I went to Lansing to fight for Bay County, and I will continue to do so with this funding and many other things we have championed this term, like increased per-pupil spending to help students and lower state income taxes to help people keep more of what they earn. I am also focused on prioritizing effective programs, cutting waste and delivering better value for people I represent.”

“There are many good things in this budget agreement that will help workers and families in our state, and I voted for the school budget which has record per-pupil funding to support our students. But this specific tax increase to help fund roads is detrimental to many small businesses in the district I represent and across the state. We should be seeking to grow independent businesses in Michigan, not destroy them.”