LANSING – State Representative Coleman A. Young II (D-Detroit) today came out against an Executive Order (EO) issued by the Governor that would cut the state budget for the remainder of 2009 by $295 million.
"I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures, but these cuts go too far," Young said. "With the unemployment rate nearly three times above the national average, Detroit's hard-working families are struggling every day just to get by and can't afford to lose these essential services. With all due respect to the Governor and the economic crisis gripping our state, this budget plan goes against my commitment to the people of Detroit and I cannot support it."
The EO issued by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm was approved today by a joint committee of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The EO calls for a reduction in state department budgets across the board, in addition to other line-item cuts to specific departments.
Included in the EO was $97.7 million in reductions to the Department of Human Services, $52.1 million in cuts to the Department of Community Health and $41.4 million in reductions to revenue sharing, which included $7 million in funds to the city of Detroit.
"Detroit's economy is experiencing one of the darkest economic periods in its history," Young said. "In such times, it's simply unacceptable for our residents to sacrifice any more, especially important health and human services. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and create a budget plan that protects essential state services, while at the same time works toward repairing and revitalizing Michigan's economy."