LANSING, Mich., Jan. 27, 2023 — State Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) issued the following statement regarding his no vote on a $1.1 billion supplemental budget bill:
“Late last night we were presented with a choice: should we use our resources to directly help the working families in Michigan or should we pay a ransom to corporations who threaten to cut jobs or move out of state? Though there were some great provisions in the bill, including money for housing assistance and the creation of a Water Shutoff Prevention Fund, I ultimately voted no on SB 7 because it included $350 million in corporate handouts.
“Simply put, we know corporate handouts don’t work. Lawmakers have the evidence to prove they are not fiscally solid investments. We must get to a point where we aren’t strong-armed by companies demanding tax breaks and cash in exchange for the chance they will grace us with their business. This model is not a viable long-term solution, and the Michigan taxpayers like those in my district of Garden City, Inkster, Romulus and Westland are in desperate need of community investments. The millions of dollars in this bill will instead line the pockets of multimillion- and multi-billion dollar companies, and I’m proud to be able to stand up and tell corporate interests: ‘NO.’
“It’s no secret that I didn’t vote with my colleagues and friends in the Democratic caucus. At the end of the day, our caucus is strong because we bring a diverse set of experiences and ideas with us, and we have the freedom to vote our conscience when we feel we must. I look forward to working with my colleagues to invest in public education, lower health care costs and make long-term infrastructure investments around the state. I hold out hope that we can come up with better ways to inspire economic development moving forward.”