LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino this week opposed a fiscal year 2026 budget plan passed by Senate Democrats that focuses more on growing the size and scope of government instead of helping Michigan families and small businesses.
“Our state budget has ballooned by more than 40% since Gov. Whitmer took office just six years ago — yet this reckless budget plan continues to increase spending,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “I cannot support an unbalanced spending plan that fails to fix the roads, fails to provide relief to struggling families, fails to improve student academic performance and fails to live within our means — all while once again calling on Michigan taxpayers to pay more.”
During the budget debate, Bellino offered several amendments to improve the budget plan, but all were rejected by the Democratic majority.
Bellino’s amendments would have:
- Empowered more teachers to get reading-focused training to help students through the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) program.
- Prevented local governments from prohibiting the use of natural gas in new homes and businesses.
- Removed the bureaucracy of the Office of Global Michigan.
- Required the Office of Global Michigan spending to be limited to immigrants and residents who are in the country legally.
“My amendments would have stopped local natural gas bans from coming to Michigan, prevented taxpayer dollars from being used to assist illegal immigrants, and helped improve student reading success — where our students currently rank in the bottom 10 nationally,” Bellino said. “Homeowners, taxpayers, students and drivers deserve better.”
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