Lawmaker Slams Governor Vetoes

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State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan is not pleased Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed nearly $1 billion in appropriations approved by the Michigan Legislature this week. Griffin tells WSJM News lawmakers have seen many important programs slashed by the governor.

“I’m just dismayed to see the extreme cuts to educational programs because she’s been saying for a long time that education is underfunded, that there’s not enough money going to it, and to be honest with you, we sent her a budget with a 2.4% increase, and she gutted it,” Griffin said.

Griffin says many of the cuts affect southwest Michigan.

“The governor vetoed $4 million in much needed county veteran services funds. Then she vetoed $15 million in grants to protect communities from PFAS. She vetoed $10 million in school safety grants, which directly affects our ISD and a couple of our schools in Van Buren County. She vetoed $37 million for Going Pro, which is a statewide skilled trades training and job connection program.”

Griffin says the governor has not offered another way to raise road money following her 45 cent per gallon gas tax increase, even though the Legislature has had many ideas of its own. She also notes no Democratic lawmakers have taken up the governor’s gas tax. Now Griffin says the budget negotiations have to continue. Griffin’s office released a list of the vetoed items this week.