LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Thomas Albert this week voted against a state budget proposal advanced by Michigan Senate Democrats.
“This budget proposal promotes the same failed strategies we’ve seen over and over again in the past few years,” said Albert, R-Lowell. “It costs taxpayers more money without giving them their money’s worth. It doesn’t critically examine government spending and eliminate waste so we can focus on what Michigan truly needs to thrive. Instead, this budget proposal promotes big government, expanded bureaucracy and centralized planning.”
State government has added thousands of bureaucrats over the past couple of years under Democratic rule in Lansing. The Senate budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year would continue that trend in several state government departments. It also continues to allow thousands of state employees to work remotely without a corresponding reduction in the amount of taxpayer-funded office space.
Albert highlighted that the Senate Democratic plan also includes wasteful spending, such as a $1 million fund that could enable those with previous marijuana convictions to enter the marijuana business and more carveouts for labor unions. The plan would allow the attorney general to unilaterally withhold local revenue sharing. Meanwhile, Democrats rejected dozens of Republican proposals that would have eliminated waste or focused more resources on high-need areas such as bridge repairs and public safety.
“State budgets for education also fail Michigan taxpayers,” Albert said. “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer noted in her State of the State address that Michigan invests more per-pupil in K-12 education than most states but remains in the bottom 10 for student achievement. Yet the Senate’s proposal does not even include the governor’s call for more tutoring and intervention in low-performing districts, along with corresponding accountability measures.
“We are spending more money without ensuring it leads to better outcomes for students, and that doesn’t make sense.”
The Senate-approved plan is only one step in the process toward adopting a final state budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The Senate and House must approve a compromise plan before sending it to the governor for review.
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