LANSING—Senate Democrats continued their fight today to secure funding for budget priorities like education, college scholarships and public safety. As the State Senate took up House Bill 4311, a bill to allocate supplemental funding, Senate Democrats called on the Legislature to also secure funding for programs critical to the state’s future.

“I refuse to be complacent with a budget that slashes education funding, cuts college and worker scholarship programs, and decreases police and fire service funding, and my colleagues shouldn’t be either,” said Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming). “There are ways to still secure funding that can prevent devastating cuts to the programs that are vital to Michigan’s future, and we shouldn’t be giving up on the people of this state while we still have these options.”

During the budget process, Senate Democrats have continuously called for the preservation of funding for programs that are essential to the state’s economic recovery and prosperous future. These priorities include: early childhood and public education programs that prepare kids for academic success; Promise scholarships that enable all Michigan students to pursue a higher education and secure good jobs; local revenue sharing that support police and fire services to keep our communities safe; and preventative health care programs for those in need.

Senate Democrats have pointed out that there are several bills on the calendar or currently in Senate committees that could be passed to provide the revenue to continue these priorities. These include increasing the assessments on tobacco products other than cigarettes, freezing the personal income tax exemption, temporarily providing for slightly smaller business tax credits and closing other unnecessary tax loopholes.

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