LANSING – State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) today praised the Road Map to Michigan's Recovery plan. The plan boasts sweeping reforms to state and local government, cuts in government spending and investments in areas critical to Michigan's ability to compete in the 21st Century global economy.
"It's no secret that Michigan faces an unprecedented fiscal crisis," Valentine said. "At the core of every challenge there is opportunity. This plan harnesses the opportunity for Michigan to move forward and become a magnet for 21st century jobs."
The Road Map to Michigan's Recovery plan calls for far-reaching changes by: cutting state spending; enacting sweeping reforms to state and local governments and community schools; and investing in areas critical to Michigan's economic growth such as health care, education and job creation.
The first tier of the plan pursues sweeping reforms at all levels of government, including consolidating local government services and school district administrative offices, which will streamline government and save millions of dollars. This reform builds on actions taken by House Democrats in March to cut the State House budget by more than $3 million and end lifetime health care for new lawmakers.
The second tier of the plan makes deep cuts in government spending. These cuts combined with structural reforms would save the state nearly $1 billion, including the $344 million in cuts in the governor's Executive Order that passed the House last week.
The third tier makes investments that are necessary to diversify Michigan's economy. The road map creates a cutting-edge, statewide catastrophic health care system with the private sector that aims to cut costs in half to businesses and individuals alike, providing a powerful incentive for businesses to locate in Michigan. Other investments include establishing a state-of-the-art education system with improved technology that bridges the technological divide and brings our classrooms into the 21st Century. The plan would make preschool available to every child in Michigan and makes higher education more affordable and accessible. The road map prepares Michigan's communities to compete in the global economy by allocating $100 million to local communities throughout the state to improve infrastructure and develop affordable housing as a way to draw people to Michigan's cities and communities. The plan also bolsters the 21st Century Jobs Fund to help recruit new, and grow existing, cutting-edge businesses to the state.
"Investing in our people is key to turning our economy around," Valentine said.