LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Branch County’s representative in the Michigan Senate, Mike Shirkey, is one of six state lawmakers on a House-Senate conference committee scheduled to meet today to discuss a solution for funding road repairs and construction. There are multiple reports that legislation allowing Detroit to use 20% of its road funding for mass transit could be offered to attract support.
Republican majorities in both legislative chambers haven’t reached agreement on a combination of general fund revenue and new fees or taxes to be used for long-term repairs. Governor Snyder is pushing for at least $1.2 billion a year for the roads. Sources say the plan that gaining traction would combine $600 million in new revenue with $600 million in budget cuts.
The key to gathering enough votes in the legislature for passage may involve giving Democrats the assurances that schools and social services won’t be slashed any further and that issues like prevailing wage cuts will be dropped.
