LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, issued the following statement on Wednesday in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2021 State of the State address:
“This year’s speech was a bit different than previous addresses, but I appreciated hearing the governor’s vision for Michigan’s future this evening.
“I appreciate the governor’s call to work on a bipartisan basis. My colleagues and I in the Legislature have been ready and waiting to work with the governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Bipartisan work is possible, but it is a two-way street. I call on the governor to immediately lift burdensome restrictions that her administration has placed on Michigan businesses and schools, and work with the Legislature to get our state back to work and back in school safely.
“Businesses need to know if and when they can open their doors if they are to make countless investments in safety measures for employees and customers. I think they deserve a clear outlook of what the next few months will look like as we work to get things back on track.
“The Legislature also needs to continue working on relief measures for those who are hurting. My colleagues and I have dedicated nearly $4 billion to combat COVID-19 and the economic impact the virus has had on Michigan. Included in this funding was money for vaccines, schools, health care workers, nursing homes, workers and businesses. We need to work together to continue these efforts and beat this virus.
“As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I also look forward to the governor’s upcoming budget presentation and working with her administration to continue providing relief to businesses that are struggling and passing a responsible budget that funds critical state priorities while also building our savings back up and paying down long-term debt.
“I also chair the subcommittee budget for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and I share the governor’s goal of improving water quality. I will work with stakeholders to develop a budget that invests state dollars to ensure all Michiganders can feel confident that the water coming out of their taps is safe for their family.
“While we are still facing many of the challenges from last year, I hope we are able to work together in 2021 to get people back to work, get the economy back on track, fight this virus, and build a better Michigan.”
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