Waterford Today

Although Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer axed nearly $1 billion from the Republican-crafted budget before Monday’s deadline, Rep. Andrea Schroeder (R-Independence Township) is still proud of what she and her colleagues accomplished.

Days before the governor’s veto, Schroeder issued a press release touting what she dubbed a "bipartisan" spending plan, emphasizing roads, economic growth, environmental protection, education, and public health and safety.

In an interview with Waterford Today, Schroeder said the portion of road funding the governor vetoed from the Republican budget met voter expectations.

Michigan State Rep. Andrea Schroeder (R-Independence Township) | Michigan House Republicans

"Everyone wants the road at the end of their driveway fixed, and the legislative budget plan gives our locals more funding and flexibility to do so,” she said via email. “Constituents asked for their roads to be fixed, so that’s what we put at the top of the priority list."

However, Whitmer told The Washington Post after her “historic” $947 million worth of line-item vetoes that the budget plan submitted was “a mess” that “created a lot more problems than [lawmakers] solved ….”

Schroeder took issue with the governor’s planned 45-cents-per-gallon gas tax, panned on both sides of the aisle.

"It’s unfair for government to reach into taxpayers’ wallets for more money to fix our roads without first using the resources we do have to fund road repairs,” Schroeder said. “By reducing waste and inefficiency, this budget plan ensures that every dollar available is dedicated to road repairs before discussing the need for new revenue sources."

Despite the road budget being in flux, Schroeder said she is still pleased with education spending, a "priority for her this year."

"I meet regularly with parent advocates from our schools and hear a lot about what our students need to succeed,” she said. “I was able to secure increased per-pupil funding for our Clarkston and Waterford public schools and maintain the 2x formula.”

A representative for Schroeder explained the 2x formula is "two times the funding for districts that receive the minimum allowance compared to those that received the state maximum." 

At press time, Schroeder's office said the vetoes were still under review.