LANSING – State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) said today that while it is paramount that lawmakers balance the state budget to avoid a government shutdown, vital programs including police and fire protection, K-12 education funding and health care services must be protected.
"I, along with my colleagues, have been working all year to streamline our government so that it is more responsive to the needs of our residents," Jones said. "While painful, these deep cuts must be made if we truly want a more cost-effective government. A leaner government, however, will be terribly ineffective if it can't provide services to our residents. We must continue to fight to preserve important programs that support our residents in need, as well as those that will help foster job creation in order to help get Michigan's economy on track."
Although he acknowledged that deep cuts included in Wednesday's agreement were needed to progress in the budget process, Jones said the Legislature must carefully consider each cut and efficiently use taxpayer money so Michigan can move forward as a state and rebuild its economy.
"In no way should we be making cuts that compromise the commitments we have made to our middle-class families," Jones said. "We must preserve K-12 funding to prepare our children to be the workers of tomorrow, the Promise Scholarship to help more of Michigan's students continue their education, and protect our police and firefighters to keep our communities safe. Irresponsibly slashing programs that our residents rely on and that businesses need to grow is not the way to revitalize our economy."