LANSING — Yesterday, the House of Representatives finished passing the collection of bills comprising the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget, including the MDEQ budget. Despite House Democrats introducing a number of amendments, House Republicans ultimately rejected them, resulting in budgets that fail to adequately fund road repairs, schools, or the infrastructure upgrades needed to ensure Michiganders have access to clean water. In response, state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham), who introduced an amendment that would have secured additional funding for the MDEQ, issued the following statement:
“A state’s budget should reflect the priorities of its residents, and Michiganders have made their priorities clear. They want better schools, safe roads and clean drinking water — and we need a budget that actually provides for those things. That’s why I introduced an amendment restoring funding to the MDEQ for critical water projects that would provide safe water for all. That my amendment was rejected and yesterday’s version of the budget passed without that important allocation indicates how much work is left to do in this process. Luckily what was passed yesterday was just one step in ongoing budget conversations, and I’m going to keep fighting to ensure every Michigander has access to the clean, safe drinking water they deserve.”
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