LANSING – State Representative Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) said today that Republican policies have hurt Michigan’s middle-class families and haven’t kick-started an economic recovery in the state, despite what Gov. Rick Snyder claimed in his annual State of the State address.
“The governor’s address was, unfortunately, more of the same lip service in how he plans to move Michigan forward when we all know his policies have failed the citizens of our state,” said Yanez. “The governor needs to come up with a more equitable funding stream than our family’s paychecks. The people of my district have been taxed enough already.”
In his State of the State address, Gov. Snyder proposed more ideas that would hurt the middle-class families, students and seniors of Michigan. He continued his support of the Education Achievement Authority, which paves the way for school vouchers and makes it possible to allow for-profit corporations to take over public schools. Michigan drivers would also pay more in what the governor referred to as “user fees.” Snyder also called for reforms to Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance law. Last year, Republican’s proposed so-called reforms that would have imposed lifetime caps on auto injury benefits. In his nearly one-hour speech, Snyder did not mention middle-class tax cuts, relief for seniors who now pay taxes on retirement income or restoring $2 billion in education funding.
“The governor has laid out more attacks on our middle-class families, with increased car registration fees, and on school kids, with expanding the EAA without any evidence that it will improve education,” Yanez said. “I never ran into a burning building with an unproven piece of firefighting equipment, so I don’t understand how the governor thinks he can play fast and loose with unproven education policies. I will advocate for full funding for the School Aid Fund and increased input and research on any changes to our public school system in Michigan.”