LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe, issued the following statement Wednesday after the presentation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2027 state budget recommendation:
“Over the last seven years, Gov. Whitmer has squandered billions of taxpayer dollars on corporate welfare and handouts to politically connected elites, while reading scores and unemployment sank to the bottom nationally.
“I support the focus on education, but where has she been for the last seven years? Michigan has spent over $900 million over the past decade on literacy with little to show for it. That’s because the governor and Lansing Democrats blocked efforts to help students recover from the pandemic lockouts and gutted policies meant to help kids read at grade level. Dumping more money into a failing system will not work.
“I will continue fighting for a state budget that improves government efficiency, protects our communities, grows our economy and invests in our students through better policies rather than simply increasing spending. Instead of more bloated government, we need more relief for every hardworking taxpayer.”
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