www.uppermichiganssource.comBe prepared to see up to a $.45 increase in gas tax.LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sought to fulfill her campaign promises in her first budget Tuesday, calling for a massive hike in fuel taxes to "fix the damn roads," major new spending on education, and repeal of the unpopular pension tax introduced by her predecessor.
Whitmer's budget would replace revenues lost from the repeal of the pension tax by taxing businesses exempted from the corporate income tax. The $60.2-billion budget for the 2020 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 represents a 3.6 percent increase, or an increase of 2.5 percent if the extra road spending is not included, Budget Director Chris Kolb said. “I’ve heard from people all across Michigan and this budget reflects the priorities they have shared,” said Whitmer, a Democrat who took office Jan. 1. “People are tired of driving on crumbling and unsafe roads and bridges, they want to turn on their tap and know that the water is clean and safe, and they want a strong educational system that leads to opportunity and a good job.” Many aspects of Whitmer's budget are expected to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Much of the reaction from GOP lawmakers was measured and somewhat muted on Tuesday, though reaction from the House, which tends to be more conservative, was more hostile than that from the Senate. The governor struck a conciliatory tone. "This is Day One of the budget process," said Whitmer, who is embarking Wednesday on a statewide tour to try to sell the plan. She said she is "open to other ideas," but "it has to be a real solution to Michigan's problems. |
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) Mountain biking in Marquette, along with some of the trails in the western Upper Peninsula, will be featured in BIKE Magazine.
According to Travel Marquette, the 25-page digital feature will highlight five distinct trail networks across Marquette and Keweenaw Counties. BIKE Magazine has 1.6 million online monthly visitors and over 450,000 social media followers. |