LANSING, Mich.––Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and her Senate Democratic colleagues opposed the passage of a 30-day all-cuts budget today that jeopardizes vital programs that Michigan families rely on and called on Senate Republicans to stay and work on a permanent solution. With a government shutdown looming five days away and the House scheduled to work all weekend, Senate Republicans passed a brutal cuts-only budget before running off to Mackinac Island for a retreat with donors and shirking their responsibility to reach a final budget resolution.

The budgets passed by Senate Republicans today implement their cuts to health care, education, college scholarships and local revenue sharing among others. Senate Democrats opposed these cuts because they go too far and hurt the state’s chances for economic recovery. Senate Republicans took most of the summer off instead of working on a comprehensive budget solution, and today’s action only continued their procrastination that leaves Michigan families in limbo.

“The budget proposed by my colleagues ignores important priorities such as protecting education and providing critical services such as health care and public safety,” said Senator Whitmer. “It's our job to get this budget passed responsibly and slashing these programs isn't the way to do it. To pass a 30-day all-cuts budget that is in no way a compromise is unfair to the people of our state and I will not support it.”

Throughout the budget process, Senate Democrats have consistently fought to protect key priorities, including early childhood and public education programs, Promise scholarships that

help our students afford a higher education, local revenue sharing that provides police officers and firefighters to watch over our loved ones, and essential health care programs. Another statewide poll was released this week that shows a majority of Michigan citizens support a budget compromise that includes some cuts while also instituting some revenue to protect imperative programs.

[Editor’s Note: Video of Sen. Whitmer’s statement at today’s Senate session opposing the 30-day all cuts budget can be viewed here: http://www.senate.mi.gov/dem/play.php?id=889.]

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