FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 4/21/2022
CONTACT: Sarah Tresedder, sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org, 906-869-4167
Budget put forward by Senate Republicans fails to prioritize environmental protection and public health
LANSING, MI - Earlier this week, Senate Republicans released a state budget that would slash a record amount of funding for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Under their budget proposals (SB 839-840), we would see hundreds of cuts in full time employees and hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to EGLE and the DNR.
What does this mean? State Parks that have been seeing a record number of visitors could close, the over 24,000 contaminated toxic sites across Michigan would not be cleaned up, our state’s ability to update our water infrastructure hindered, and our transition to a clean energy and transportation system stifled. Furthermore, Michigan’s environmental agencies that are already severely underfunded will not be able to properly monitor, investigate, enforce laws, or run the necessary programs and services that so many Michiganders expect from our government in order to protect Michigan’s natural resources and move our state forward.
With a major budget surplus and dollars coming in from the federal government, the state should not be making these kinds of dangerous budget cuts. Michigan has a monumental opportunity to develop a sustainable state economy -- one that will create tens of thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs, which Governor Whitmer’s budget prioritizes. This is the time to be decisive in saving lives, and bold in charting a path to a genuinely healthier and more equitable future for all Michigan residents.
In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:
“Michigan’s public lands, natural resources, and infrastructure are essential to the economic and ecological sustainability of our state and the recreational opportunities for our residents. Dangerous budget cuts like these from the legislative majority, undermine the important work of these agencies to protect the environmental and economic health of our state and only benefit corporate polluters. Michiganders want more protection for our Great Lakes, not less. It is very disappointing to see Senate Republicans not share this view and we hope as the budget process continues, we see an EGLE and DNR budget that more reflects the values of Michiganders.”
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