LANSING – (WTVB) – 58th District Republican State Representative Eric Leutheuser voted in favor of legislation on Tuesday which ends a two-month budget standoff and restores support for what he calls essential resources serving Hillsdale and Branch counties.
Supplemental budget bills restore $573 million of the funding which was earlier cut by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s line item vetoes.
“The governor’s budget cuts disproportionately hurt rural counties like ours, and that simply could not stand,” said Leutheuser, of Hillsdale. “I started working immediately to make things right, and I’m glad a resolution is on the way. The measures headed back to the governor’s desk will protect our rural hospitals, support our sheriff patrols, and enhance other key services many southern Michigan residents depend on every day.”
The plan restores $7.9 million statewide for rural hospitals providing obstetrician services, including Hillsdale Hospital.
The measures headed to Whitmer also reverse her $13 million in cuts to the program allowing sheriffs to hire patrols for secondary roads, which last year amounted to more than $140,000 for Hillsdale and Branch counties combined.
The budget plan also restores funding for school safety grants, dropout recovery programs and literacy programs. The Michigan Tuition Grant program will be funded.
Support for military veterans, seniors, public school academies and many others also will be restored.
Not included in the supplemental budget bills was a long term funding plan for fixing roads. Also cut was funding for Pure Michigan tourism advertising.
