LANSING, Mich., Feb. 9, 2022 — Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her priorities for the fiscal year 2023 state budget. In a presentation to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Budget Director Chris Harkins outlined the governor’s plans on a number of critical issues. The governor continued to stress much-need investments in our education system and critical infrastructure across the state. In response, state Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) issued the following statement:

“Crumbling infrastructure and underperforming schools share one thing in common: They’re both the result of decades of underfunding and negligence. Addressing these issues requires bold investments that put our children’s futures first. Multiple crises, from Flint to the teacher shortage, have made that clear. The proposals laid out by the governor — like raising teacher pay and boosting infrastructure spending by nearly $1 billion — will ensure that future generations don’t face these same challenges. And other proposals — like expanding the EITC and repealing the pension tax — will ensure that thousands of Michiganders overcome their challenges today.”