Sen. Runestad votes to restore $570 million to MI's FY2020 budget

Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) was among the state's lawmakers who voted Dec. 5 to restore more than $570 million to the fiscal year 2020 budget vetoes made by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The funding cuts were part of a 147 line-item veto by Whitmer in October as part of her campaign promise to veto any bill that did not include funding for roads.

“The governor’s budget cuts were shutting down vital services to our most-vulnerable residents and having a devastating effect on families most at risk,” Runestad said in a statement. “These budget supplemental bills will restore much of that funding, including money for drug treatment programs, local police departments and schools and veterans programs.”

Runestad said he is hopeful Whitmer will restore the funding for what he called "critical programs" in Oakland County.

“Signing these supplemental bills is not only the right thing to do; it also will demonstrate that the governor is willing to work in a bipartisan manner so that together we can move Michigan forward," Runestad stated in a press release.

The bills are SB 376 and SB 377, which have been sent to the House for consideration.

https://novitimes.com/stories/521397474-sen-runestad-among-lawmakers-who-voted-to-restore-570-million-to-state-s-fy-2020-budget