Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the budgets on their way to her desk are – quote – “a mess”
The Legislature voted out the rest of the state budgets today.
A big disagreement among Republicans and Democrats is whether the term “record funding” means anything. Republicans touted bills that they say put record amounts of money toward roads and education. But Democrats say the state wasn’t spending that much before…so the so-called “record” doesn’t mean anything.
Here’s Democratic Senator Curtis Hertel. He voted no on the transportation budget.
“Let’s be very clear. Record funding is just another gimmick. We had record funding in 2016, and then in 2017. Do we make progress fixing the roads? The answer’s no.”
Supporters say the 400 million dollars in one-time money the budget would put toward roads and bridges is a good investment in the state’s priorities.