Interesting that state Rep. Jim Townsend, D-Royal Oak, wrote in a Detroit Free Press commentary piece that:

“Far right conservatives, who have come to dominate the GOP’s caucuses in the state legislature, are on a mission to dismantle the government by dramatically reducing its funding and curtailing its authority.”

So let us once again look at the facts and not just partisan rhetoric from democrat Rep. Townsend.

  • The amount of state tax dollars appropriated by the Republican Legislature and governor to the Department of Health and Human Services (the state welfare agency) reached an all-time high of $5.3 billion this year, remember this is under Republican control. That is $385 million more than Gov. Rick Snyder’s first budget in 2011-12.
  • The amount given to the Department of Transportation was $2.5 billion, another record high, and $553 million more than Snyder’s first budget in 2011-12. Is that dramatically reducing funding?
  • The amount given to K-12 public schools soared to $12.1 billion this year, also an all-time high, and $1.0 billion more than in 2011-12. I ask, again is that dramatically reducing funding?  These Michigan Republicans appear to not know what they are doing when it comes to reducing spending.
  • These “far-right conservatives” also have appropriated this year $30.1 billion for the entire state budget, yet again an all-time record high By the way that is $2.8 billion more than 2011-12.

Apparently these “far right conservatives” are quite unsuccessful at “dramatically reducing funding”.

Case closed.  State democrat representative Townsend should study the facts before writing any commentaries.

Let’s discuss this today on my program, The Live with Renk show, which airs Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon, to let me know your thoughts at (269) 441-9595.

Or please feel free to start a discussion and write your thoughts in the comment section.

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