Bloated Democrat Budget Falls Short

Lansing, MI  – Today, the Democrat-led Michigan Senate passed the final piece of their $88 billion budget plan, a massive increase over last year’s budget despite a budget revenue shortfall. During the process, Senate Republicans offered dozens of amendments to try to make the budget more reasonable and affordable for Michiganders, but, determined to waste as much taxpayer money as possible, Senate Democrats shot them down.

One amendment, brought by Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt, sought to take the money from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s corporate handout slush fund and use it for property tax relief, but every Democrat voted against it. 

Another, introduced by state Senator Mark Huizenga, would have provided millions of dollars in sales tax relief – a much-needed break in Michigan as Gretchen Whitmer’s policies have made the state increasingly unaffordable.

Democrats also shot down the Republican attempt to opt into a federal student success scholarship program. The program would provide scholarships to families to increase their educational choices, and since it is funded by the federal government, it would not affect Michigan’s bottom line.

Overall, the Senate budget comes with a price tag that is a staggering $12 billion higher than the budget passed by the Republican-led House last week. With a projected revenue shortfall, House Republicans have focused on fiscal responsibility and cutting waste and fraud in the Michigan budget, while Senate Democrats have followed Whitmer’s lead, hoping to spend money that Michigan does not have.

“The Senate today showed just how out of touch their priorities are,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “Lansing Democrats’ policies have forced Michiganders to be smarter with their money as everything from energy costs to housing prices have skyrocketed, but unlike taxpayers, Democrats don’t have any fiscal discipline.”