Huizenga says Senate budget plan ‘missed opportunities for Michiganders in need’

LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark Huizenga sponsored several amendments this week to three Senate budgets to solve problems for West Michigan families and the most vulnerable.

“We need a state budget focused on solving problems facing Michigan,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “I am disappointed that none of my amendments were adopted to support our children, students, veterans, homeowners, food banks, and foster families. They also would have helped prevent domestic abuse and improved highway ramp safety.

“The partisan rejections of these measures are missed opportunities for Michiganders in need.”

Huizenga introduced amendments to the Michigan Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Services, K-12 School Aid, and Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity budgets to:

• Double the funding for Michigan’s food bank to $20 million.
• Boost funding by $19 million for domestic violence prevention and victim support.
• Ensure adequate reimbursement to emergency medical service providers.
• Increase funding for at-risk and disadvantaged students.
• Triple the 8% reimbursement rate for foster and adoptive families and juvenile guardians.
• Increase funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers by $12 million to $15.9 million.
• Ensure adequate reimbursement to emergency medical service providers.
• Increase tobacco use prevention efforts to $5 million.
• Reduce LEO contingency funds to current levels to maintain critical legislative oversight.
• Create a $5 million fund to reimburse homeowners who face increased mortgage fees from the Biden administration’s new fee metric.
• Remove population restrictions for additional Going Pro workforce training dollars.
• Increase funding for Helmets to Hardhats program that connects veterans with jobs.
• Invest $3 million to help prevent wrong-way accidents on highway ramps.

“The hardworking people of West Michigan need and deserve a state budget that uses their tax dollars in a responsible and sustainable way to meet their needs and improve their lives and their communities,” Huizenga said.

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