Following Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State Address earlier this week, State Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline) said that she wants to prioritize education and looks forward to working with Snyder on transportation after hearing him address those topics in his State of the State address.
Driskell represents the 52nd District, which includes Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Saline, Scio Township and Whitmore Lake.
“The governor’s recommendation to raise the level of funding for transportation has great merit,” Driskell said in a press release, citing the fact that the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) funding is so low it is causing a significant drop in service.
“I have worked locally for many years on our transportation system, and I am very concerned about the lack of revenue supporting our transportation infrastructure,” she said.
“The ability for WCRC to maintain our roads affects school bus routes and public safety, not to mention the damage incurred to automobiles.”
She said she was disappointed that the governor did not address the previous two years’ worth of diversion of funds away from K-12 education and public universities.
“In my conversations with constituents around western Washtenaw County, the No. 1 concern was the diversion of K-12 education funding away from schools,” she said in a press release.
“Instead of hearing about ways to address the constraints of our public schools, all we heard about from the governor was expansion of the Education Achievement Authority, which is an additional privatization effort statewide,” Driskell said.
The representative wants to build Michigan’s economy by improving its workforce through education, the press release states.
“The success of our state is dependent on providing good educational opportunities and quality communities where people will choose to live and work,” she said.
“Washtenaw County could be a state model for policy direction by the current Legislature,” Driskell said. “Our low unemployment rate is directly related to excellent schools, higher education institution, and a vast array of great places to recreate. Building these assets requires a change in legislative direction, investing in our schools and communities.”
Over the past two years, according to the press release, the Republican-run Legislature has diverted funding away from education, eliminated the Personal Property Tax and continued cuts to revenue sharing, causing financial stress to schools, libraries and local services, such as police officers and firefighters.
Driskell is optimistic that positive change is within reach, if legislators and the governor are willing to work together. “I look forward to partnering with our governor and the new Legislature on initiatives that will bring good paying jobs to our state, support our families, and protect our environment,” she said.
