LANSING, Mich. — There are 32 days now until a state budget has to be passed or the government shuts down. Governor Gretchen Whitmer introduced her $2.5 billion budget plan six months ago. She says Republicans are standing in the way. A part of her plan increased funding for schools.
Fox 47 caught up with her on Thursday during her stop at Jackson High School.
“The legislature took a couple of months off for a summer break without getting the budget done,” said Whitmer. “This is the first time in nine years that’s happened and now schools like Jackson are two months into their fiscal year and they don’t even know what they’re working with and that’s why I’m committed to staying at the table until we have a budget that fixes the roads and protects schools.”
She met with the Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, Jeff Beal. Whitmer proposed a $1.2 million funding increase to the district in her budget.
“Our budget right now is scheduled to dip into the fund balance about $800,000,” said Beal. “So we are very much looking forward to a budget from Lansing offering new revenue.”
Whitmer also talked to students in an Advanced Placement U.S. History class. 14-year-old Emma Tierney was one of them.
“Hi, what is your favorite thing about the state of Michigan,” asked Tierney.
Her eyes were glued as she listened to every word.
“Personally, she’s one of my heroes,” said Tierney. “I really see where she’s coming from on a lot of issues. I love politics so much.”
Tierney is a smart cookie.
“Honors Algebra 2, I’m in Honor’s Biology, I’m in Honor’s English, I’m in AP U.S. History, and then my other classes are French 2-A and orchestra, yes I take orchestra too,” said Tierney.
When Whitmer asked who would work in public service, Tierney’s hand was the only hand raised.
“Not only do you make a lot of major changes for people, but you also have a very large platform to let other people know about other issues,” said Tierney.
She has a message to those who think she’s too young to understand what’s going on.
“I think it’s really important as a young person to understand what’s happening because we are the future so we need to know what our country is going through, what the world is going through, what we need to do to improve things and if we don’t then we’re just being ignorant,” said Tierney.
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