LANSING - Michigan Senate officials announced today that Sen. Deb Cherry (D-Burton) has been appointed to serve on the Senate Finance Committee by Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming).

“This new assignment will allow me to work on the front lines to make sure that vital state services will be adequately funded, even as we face potential budget cuts,” said Cherry. “I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on solutions that will stabilize Michigan’s economy and help our state bounce back.”

The Senate Finance Committee considers issues of critical importance to the state’s tax structure and available revenue streams, with a goal of enforcing fair tax policy and spurring economic development while ensuring necessary state services are maintained. Sen. Cherry hopes to work with her fellow committee members to reach a compromise for a fair and equitable tax system that doesn’t overburden taxpayers during times of hardship but still allows important state services to be funded. Sen. Cherry brings the experience of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which handles the state budget, to her new role.

In addition to her Finance Committee appointment, Sen. Cherry is assigned to four Senate Appropriations Subcommittees: Capital Outlay, Department of Community Health (DCH), General Government, and Retirement. As the ranking Democrat on the DCH and Retirement panels, she is able to influence legislation that determines spending on a host of human and health services issues, concerns the Senator has been addressing throughout her legislative career.

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