LANSING — State Representative Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline) said today that Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative Republicans’ annual State of the State address promises more of the same ineffective policies that have yet to create jobs for Michigan families or deliver the best possible education to our students.

“The governor’s attempts at creating jobs by shifting the tax burden from businesses to individuals and drastically reducing school funding has continued to be crippling to the seniors, families and students of Michigan,” Driskell said. “Unfortunately, the governor is continuing this approach. The Democratic plan is the one that will move Michigan forward.”

This year’s State of the State address makes it clear that Republicans are doubling down on policies that have been detrimental to the state. They have raised taxes on middle-class families, gutted out public schools and have undermined our economic security. This year:

  • Families face smaller tax refunds, or no refunds at all, because of the loss of tax credits and deductions including the child tax deduction and a severely reduced Earned Income Tax Credit.

  • Seniors living on fixed incomes will continue struggling because of the retirement tax.

  • Families will be forced to continue searching for educational options as a result of the Republican plan to continue dissolving school districts and taking over struggling schools through the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), which has yet to show any improvement in the schools it runs.

  • Women across the state face greater economic struggles thanks to Republican approval of a new law making basic health care more costly than ever.

  • Republicans continue to push gimmicks to address education including cyber schools and other entities that lack accountability and have yet to show any improvements.

“It’s time to start investing in communities and schools in order to attract and retain talent throughout our state,” Driskell said.

House Democrats will fight to make sure that the budget surplus, fixed at $971 million by state officials at their Jan. 10 revenue estimating conference, is invested in local schools, which have struggled under Republican education cuts, and for long-term tax relief for middle-class families and seniors who have shouldered the burden of corporate tax cuts for the past three years.