Fresh off Governor Whitmer’s veto of desperately needed emergency COVID funds, State Rep. Pauline Wendzel and her colleagues voted to override Governor Whitmer’s veto.  Despite supporting the funding with overwhelming bipartisan support in an initial vote, House Democrats flip their votes, failing to support hardworking Michiganders and caused the override to fail.

“This isn’t the first time Governor Whitmer has tried to bypass the legislature by using her veto pen,” Rep. Wendzel said.  “Last term, she cut close to $1 billion from autism services, secondary road patrols, opioid clinics, veteran services, and road funding.  Today, she cut over $1.4 billion in federal funding to clean up messes her departments created.  The people of Michigan aren’t responsible for these mistakes or for the hardships they’ve caused, our governor is.”

After paying out over a billion dollars in fraudulent claims and paying hush money to a former director who failed to help Michiganders when they needed it most, Governor Whitmer vetoed $150 million to stabilize the UIA Trust Fund.  Some additional vetoes include:

• $840 million in Federal Title 1 funding to schools;
• $405 million for business property and unemployment tax relief and bar and restaurant fee relief;
• $86.8 million for nonpublic schools; and
• $10 million for a summer school grant program.

“Tomorrow marks one year since Michigan’s first case of COVID-19,” Rep. Wendzel said.  “Instead of asking Michiganders to turn on their porch lights to mark the occasion, the governor and House Democrats could have supported this critical funding to help the people of our state. It’s past time to end one-person rule, re-open our state, and get this money into the hands of those who need it most.” Rep. Wendzel concluded, “I remain focused on helping the people I serve.  I wish the governor and House Democrats would stop playing partisan politics and focus on serving the people of Michigan.”

            Funding for property tax relief, unemployment tax relief, liquor license fees, and bar and restaurant fees included in the veto override were not tied to any limitations on Governor Whitmer’s emergency powers.