During a meeting with Congressional Republicans early in his first term, President Barack Obama famously asserted that “elections have consequences.” What does that portend for the first Michigan budget less than a year out from the last mid-terms? [1]
On the surface, it would suggest that votors overwhelmingly wanted incoming governor Gretchen Whitmer to advance her signature campaign promise to “Fix the Damn Roads.” But political pundits have argued that this message may not only have resonated through its clarity, but thanks to contrast against an opponent who’d failed to substantively connect in any way otherwise. [2-5]
At the same time, Republicans were returned to control both houses of the Michigan legislature. Under the state constitution, the governor must submit a balanced budget recommendation to the legislature, and the legislature must approve a final budget that the governor must then sign. [6-8]
Not surprisingly, these two co-equal branches of government have differing priorities. In fact, these views are very much at odds. [9,10]
On May 21, Rebekah Warren, representing our 55th House District held a “Budget Town Hall” at Pittsfield Charter Township Hall. She was accompanied by State Representative Jon Hoadley, who currently serves as Democratic vice chair of both the House Appropriations and House Fiscal Agency Governing subcommittees. [11-15]
Apart from staff, attendance numbered under a couple dozen. Older. Very well read on issues and process. They also appeared to be largely supportive of content that was decidely in favor of direction advocated by Governor Whitmer.
Representative Warren shared information via PowerPoint on rationale for raising fuel taxes to a total of forty-five cents per gallon in three fifteeen-cent increments phased at six-month intervals starting this October. It could have been a page from the presentation that the governor herself made two months ago at The Workforce Pipeline Summit put on by our Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Chamber at Washtenaw Community College. [16-18]
Part of any individual calculation of anticipated cost increase for yearly miles driven will be offset by an estimated average savings of $562 per driver, per year for “auto repairs related to poor road conditions.” State Representative Warren inserted her own personal anecdote about recently hitting a pothole on the way to Lansing — setting her back $280 in rim and tire repair, along with blowing a hole in her schedule for arriving on time at the Capitol for an important committee meeting.
She talked about the environment, broadly in terms of clean drinking water. Then, within the last week, she added, another pfas contamination site has been identified within the City of Saline. [19-22]
But the heart of her pitch focused on investment in improved educational offerings, from elementary through traditional college and university financing, and on to ongoing lifelong skills training. She cited third grade literacy rates that show Michigan as =dead last= in the nation. It surely helps set the stage for the 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference opening next week after Memorial Day. [23-25]
With the 2020 budget cycle only a month or so before close, this May 21 =Budget Town Hall appeared to be more explanation than call to action. At the same time, any “win” or “loss” here will not just set stage and context for 2021, but almost certainly help further set the stage for the next major election debates — already, it seems, now in full swing.
References
- “Eight Years Ago, Obama Told Republicans That Elections Have Consequence. They Hold The Whip Hand Now” David Paul (April 5, 2017) HuffPost.
- “Michigan’s ‘massive turnout’ midterm highest since 1962” Charles E Ramirez and Jennifer Chambers (November 7, 2018) The Detroit News.
- “Fix the Damn Roads” Whitmer Gilchrist for Michigan.
- “Final 2018 Season Washtenaw Economic Club Luncheon Sought To Explain Impact Of November 6 Mid-Term Election Results” Dell Deaton (November 9, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Bill Schuette” Ballotpedia.
- “Michigan Republicans keep control of state House, Senate” Jonathan Oosting (November 7, 2018) The Detroit News.
- “Once again, Michigan Dems get more state Senate and House votes, but GOP keeps power” Tom Perkins (November 7, 2018) Detroit Metro Times.
- A Legislator’s Guide to Michigan’s Budget Process, Mary Ann Cleary (January 2019) House Fiscal Agency, State of Michigan House of Representatives.
- “Governor Whitmer’s FY 2020 Budget” The Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
- “Senate OKs budget that splits with Whitmer on roads, schools” David Eggert (May 16, 2019) Education Week.
- “Rebekah Warren” Michigan House Democrats.
- Pittsfield Charter Township Michigan (home page).
- “Jon Hoadley” Michigan House Democrats.
- “Appropriations” Michigan House of Representatives.
- “House Fiscal Agency” State of Michigan House of Representatives.
- “Gov Gretchen Whitmer to propose 45-cent hike in fuel tax to fund Michigan roads” Paul Egan (March 4, 2019) Detroit Free Press.
- “Report: Michigan doesn’t have money to fix deteriorating roads” Kristi Tanner (March 12, 2019) Detroit Free Press.
- Workforce Pipeline Summit (home page).
- “Whitmer budget would direct $180M more toward drinking water” David Eggert (March 23, 2019) Detroit Free Press.
- “Basic Information on PFAS” EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- “Michigan PFAS Sites” State of Michigan.
- “Public comment at April 1, 2019 Saline City Council Meeting renewed focus on 232 Monroe Street remediation” Dell Deaton (April 3, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Whitmer Urges ‘Bold Investment’ with Budget Proposal” (March 5, 2019) MEA: Michigan Education Foundation.
- “2019 Mackinac Policy Conference” Detroit Regional Chamber.
- “Education and work force development anticipated to top agenda for 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference later this month” Dell Deaton (May 17, 2019) Saline Journal.
