LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today approved several major pieces of the state budget for 2008-2009, closing in on a final budget plan that invests in higher education, protects job creation programs and cuts over $100 million in state spending.
"The pieces of the budget plan that we passed today preserve funding for higher education, health care, and public safety – the vital services that we need to make Michigan a great place to live, work and raise our families," said Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.). "They also protect funding for the job-creation programs that are critical in creating more good-paying jobs for our workers. This plan moves Michigan in the right direction."
The budget plan for 2008-2009 includes a mix of cuts, reforms and programs designed to streamline state spending, protect critical services and promote job creation programs. The plan includes:
Cutting over $100 million in government spending.
Expanding the Michigan Nursing Corps program to address Michigan's nursing shortage and prepare new nursing faculty by recruiting displaced workers with bachelor's degrees in science to earn an accelerated one-year nursing certification.
Increasing funding for Veterans Service Organizations to support our servicemen and women who have fought to protect our country.
Investing $59 million in the No Worker Left Behind program, which trains workers who have lost their jobs to outsourcing and downsizing for jobs available now in high-demand fields.
Creating a 100-recruit school to train more Michigan State Police troopers.
"All of the hard work and long hours that went into crafting a budget plan that moves Michigan forward are paying off for our residents of Michigan," said State Representative George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "House Democrats' goal was to work with the Senate to come to a compromise to ensure that Michigan's budget was resolved in a timely and bipartisan manner. We can now get back to the business of protecting our most vulnerable residents, creating jobs and getting Michigan's economy back on track."