LANSING – State Representative Bob Constan (D-Garden City) voted during a late-running House session on Tuesday for more than $275 million in cuts that will help balance the state's budget for the remainder of 2007 while protecting vital funding for health care, police and fire protection, and job creation programs.
"As we work to resolve the budget crisis facing our state, it is important that we protect our most vital services like health care and public safety," Constan said. "It's also imperative that we preserve job creation programs that will help get our economy back on track. Some of the cuts will be painful, but they are necessary to balance our budget without sacrificing our most essential services and programs."
Michigan's general fund is facing a $332 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. Next year's budget deficit threatens to reach $3 billion or more.
House Democrats were able to slash more than $275 million from the budget by forcing executive government agencies, such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Legislature and Judiciary, to further cut spending. The plan also will increase revenues for the state by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies and others. Lawmakers will next focus on reforms to further streamline government spending.
The House plan, unlike the Senate plan, drew the line at slashing funding for public health programs. The Senate has proposed cutting funding for immunizations for children from low-income families, Alzheimer's and cancer research, maternity and infant care, nursing home care, and day care for children, among many other programs. The Senate plan also cuts 10 percent in revenue-sharing dollars to local communities that equates to the loss of more than 600 police and firefighters throughout the state. The Senate's plan also makes cuts that cost the state about $100 million in federal matching dollars.
"I refuse to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens – our children and our seniors," Constan said. "We must protect our citizens and make sure our communities are not left at risk. These are our top priorities, and that's what this budget plan does."