LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, issued the following statement after voting against a state budget plan advanced by Democrats in the Michigan Senate:
“The initial budget plan approved this week by Michigan Senate Democrats is unsustainable and unacceptable. It relies on risky, unnecessary gimmicks that could cause budget problems in future years — without offering real solutions to the real challenges facing our state. It does nothing to rein in high energy costs or corporate welfare, while failing to address issues in underperforming schools.
“This proposal is built on two financial planning flaws — the withdrawal of $350 million from the budget stabilization or ‘rainy day’ fund, and an overreliance on one-time spending.
“Times are tough for many Michigan families, but this budget proposal would not do enough to help them. After blowing through a $9 billion budget surplus a few years ago, Democrats still appear more worried about expanding state government than helping struggling families.
“State government itself is not facing a ‘rainy day.’ There is no fiscal emergency for government, and our state should not be acting like there is one. Rather than tapping into savings, state government should instead eliminate unnecessary spending and live within its means — just like Michigan families are forced to do.
“If state government is really facing a ‘rainy day,’ we should not be spending millions of dollars on pork projects, or even considering a $25 million park proposed for the state Capitol complex.
“The schools budget proposed by Democrats makes the same old mistakes in the same old ways. It fails to take the steps necessary to truly improve outcomes for students in Michigan.
“Our state’s early elementary students lag behind their counterparts on national reading tests. Too many kids are missing too many classes as chronic absenteeism remains a massive problem. This budget plan doesn’t do enough to help failing schools improve or hold them accountable — and even tries to push alternatives such as public charter schools out of business.
“The budget plan approved by Senate Democrats is a relatively early step in the budget process. Differences between the Senate, House and governor’s plan must be ironed out to find a compromise. I am hopeful that the next budget proposal that comes before the Senate will be a better plan than the one advanced this week.”
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