Day 1 of Senate Budget Debate Shows Republican Priorities Remain Out of Touch with Michigan's Needs

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer today slammed Republicans for continuing their two year assault on Michigan's schools, working families and communities as the Senate began voting on budgets for Fiscal Year 2013 today.

“Our state's budget is a statement of our values and Republicans are once again showing they value corporate profits over the needs of our state and its people,” said Whitmer. “Without question, these last 2 years of Republican control have represented the worst attacks on Michigan's public schools, universities and working families in our state's history.”

Whitmer said that despite the rhetoric from Governor Snyder about using metrics to guide the state's budgeting decisions, the budgets passed today completely ignore any data and instead rely purely on gimmicks and political tricks to further their partisan agenda.

“These budgets don't represent progress, they represent the most shameful form of politics,” added Whitmer. “They're once again robbing money from our School Aid Fund and taking money out of the pockets of those who need our help most, all to fund further tax handouts to big businesses without the promise of a single job being created. It's a disgrace.”

The Senate passed FY13 budgets today for the Departments of Corrections, Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, Agriculture and Rural Development, Human Services, Community Health, Judiciary, and Transportation. Senate Democrats offered a number of amendments to try to lessen the damage these budgets would cause, however the Republican majority refused to adopt any of them.

The remaining state budgets are expected to be voted on tomorrow.