Flip-flopping Kevin Hertel Doesn’t Know If He Wants Jobs in His District

Lansing, MI – Yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke in St. Clair Shores about the much-needed improvements to Selfridge Air Force Base in Macomb County. The governor called on all legislators to make sure that the upgrades were funded in time for the base to receive a new fighter mission from President Trump’s administration, bringing jobs to the area.

Gretchen Whitmer neglected to mention that it’s the Democrat-led Senate currently holding up funding for Selfridge. House Republicans fast-tracked the spending in March, trying to ensure that the base gets the funding it needs by the June 1st deadline. 

In contrast, when the Michigan Senate passed its budget last month, the funding included for Selfridge would blow past the deadline, putting the new fighter mission secured by Speaker Hall in jeopardy. Republicans in the Senate attempted to amend the budget to make sure that the project could move forward on time, but Senate Democrats rebuffed them.Notably, state Senator Kevin Hertel, who represents Selfridge, flip-flopped his vote on the funding multiple times. Originally, he supported the Republican effort to fund Selfridge, but apparently changed his mind and backed the Democrats’ delay, holding jobs in his district hostage.

“Kevin Hertel is playing political games with the jobs in his district,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “He was asked three times to support his constituents, and he just kept changing his answer. Senate Democrats need to stop stalling and join Speaker Matt Hall in funding Selfridge Air Base on time.”