Michigan House Republicans, Democrats battle over funding for roads

(CBS DETROIT)One member is voicing concerns about the latest plan from Michigan House Republicans, which seeks to redirect over $3 billion in taxpayer funds to upgrade the state’s roads and bridges.

Republicans want to concentrate their expenditure on improving the local roads and bridges, which are in poor condition.

“Driving on these uneven roads is a pain. There are potholes in several of them. “Yes, it would be fantastic if they were fixed,” Lansing driver Enock Phiri stated on Tuesday.

Without raising taxes, House Republicans said they want to utilize the approximately $3 billion to repair those local roads.

“By using the corporate income tax and then really allocating the sales tax that’s already charged on gas instead of going to the general fund, direct it directly to the roads,” stated state representative Donni Steele, who has been supporting local road construction funding since her election in 2023.

Steele and current House Minority Leader Matt Hall made the announcement earlier this week.

“The emphasis is designed to go from taking the road funding and go from the driveways to the highways because, um, that is where the issue has been,” she stated.

Funding for the initiative will come from our state’s corporate income tax and from the replacement of an existing vehicle fuel levy, according to Hall’s office. However, some politicians are becoming concerned about that proposal.

Rep. Matt Koleszar, a Democrat, said the idea may reduce spending on education by around $1 billion.

“Michiganders need safe and functioning roads, but blowing a massive hole in school funding to get there is not only irresponsible budgeting but also harmful to the millions of students, parents, and teachers who rely on our school system,” Koleszar said in a statement when he was not available for an interview on Tuesday.

However, Steele asserts that Michigan must make more prudent financial decisions.

“Educating the children is obviously important, but do we really need splash pads? Academics are necessary, of course, but do we really need a new track field? “I said,” she said.

As long as Democrats hold the House majority, the funding plan will have a difficult time throughout this parliamentary session. But when the House meets again in January with a new majority, we might see more discussion and action on the plan.

After covering Michigan’s capital for two years, Elle Meyers joined the CBS News Detroit staff in April 2023. Born in Oregon, Elle graduated from the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) with a double major in political science and journalism, two subjects that have helped her along the way to Detroit.

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