State Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today following the Whitmer administration’s budget presentation:

“Today’s message from the governor echoes a familiar tune: demanding more from taxpayers’ pockets to fuel a lavish spending spree, while neglecting the chorus of people calling for relief.

“The cost of living is hitting us all hard. From groceries to gas, every expense seems to be on the rise. The people of Michigan want their leaders to work together and find solutions that can ease the financial strain and make daily life more affordable. Instead, the governor increased taxes and proposed growing government with unnecessary new programs, more state bureaucrats, and special projects that benefit a select few.

“Gov. Whitmer is prioritizing programs that offer wealthy people handouts when they buy a new car, taking on more debt to do more construction on state highways while local roads are ignored, and using money that should be spent on K-12 classrooms to fund free community college for all.

“Meanwhile, the people I talk to are tightening their belts. They’re not out shopping for a new EV; they’re focused on finding a reliable used car. They want state government to do the same – buckle down and focus on doing the basics well. If there’s extra revenue, the governor shouldn’t spend it on shiny new programs. She should return it to the people who earned it.

“By scaling back our state’s commitment to addressing unfunded liabilities, this budget proposal could set a dangerous precedent, leaving our state’s finances vulnerable in the long run. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly and honor our commitments.

“Let’s not forget that the governor’s budget proposal marks the beginning of the process, not the final product. We’ve got a long way to go, and an evenly divided House. I’m gearing up for some serious conversations and lots of committee meetings where we’ll thoroughly review the governor’s proposal. I’m ready to dive in and do the work to make sure every tax dollar the state collects is well spent.”

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