LANSING – State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) said today that while she is prepared to move a budget with deep cuts in order to balance the state budget, she will fight to protect programs essential to jumpstarting Michigan's economy, moving the state into the future and protecting our most vulnerable citizens. These priorities include K-12 education, scholarships including the Michigan Promise, local police and fire protection, and health care for kids and seniors.
"With the severe economic crisis Michigan faces, there's no doubt we must make deep cuts to our budget," said Valentine, a longtime educator. "What we can't do though, is turn our backs on our families who are relying on the Michigan Promise scholarship to ensure their children receive the quality education they need to compete for good-paying jobs. And we can't compromise the safety of our residents by taking police and firefighters off the street."
Valentine said the agreement on deep cuts that came Wednesday was a necessary first step in moving the budget process forward, but was in no way enough to position Michigan for the future and revitalize its economy. Valentine is looking forward to continuing to work with her colleagues to protect key investments that will help Michigan prosper in the 21st Century.
"No one wants to relocate or start a business in a state that is crime ridden, has poor schools and doesn't protect its most vulnerable residents," Valentine said. "If we want Michigan to experience an economic turnaround, we can't gut public safety, education and health care. We have to invest in those key areas to make progress if we truly want to turn Michigan around."