LANSING, Mich.— On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee exploited a rarely used provision in state law to slash $645 million in state budget funding for crucial programs for Michiganders, kids, and communities. Among the resources ripped away were funds to provide services to kids facing lead poisoning in Genesee County. In response to this cruel, unprecedented action, Sen. John Cherry(D-Flint), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement:
“I am surprised and disappointed by the heartless action of House Republicans to slash over half a billion dollars in state funds promised to Michigan families and communities — including resources to provide vital services to children in Genesee County suffering from lead poisoning.
“It’s unbelievable that Speaker Hall and his Republican colleagues are OK with continuing to send millions of dollars to businesses and to support infrastructure projects in their own districts while deeming services for lead-poisoned kids in Flint as ‘waste,’ ‘fraud,’ and ‘abuse.’
“For as long as I have been serving in the Legislature, I have known and wholeheartedly believe that this is not the function of government, to actively attack constituents of other legislators. We do not allow the arbitrary lines that divide our districts to keep us from delivering solutions that uplift all Michiganders, no matter what community they call home.
“House Republicans’ actions are cruel and downright shameful for the harmful consequences they will have on not just my community, but on people across the state. My constituents deserve better. Michiganders deserve better. And that starts with holding House Republicans accountable for their actions, to which I invite every Michigander to join me by calling their offices and asking them why they ripped away funds from new moms, kids with cancer and children with lead poisoning, while continuing to shovel money to businesses.”
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