LANSING – House Democrats today lambasted House Republicans for blocking the distribution of $2.1 billion in federal stimulus money that will create thousands of jobs, strengthen education, shore up struggling community programs, and protect services for some of Michigan's most vulnerable citizens.
"It is beyond the pale that my colleagues across the aisle took decisive action to delay desperately needed federal funding from reaching our communities and residents who need relief now," said Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee). "This funding is needed to create jobs now for our workers, as well as to help at-risk children, people with disabilities and community programs that help people who are struggling in this tough economy. This is an example of partisan politics at the ugliest level."
The Michigan House today passed a plan that would pump $2.1 billion into Michigan's economy. The funding – provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – aims to bolster Michigan's economy by directing federal funds to shovel-ready projects in order to create thousands of jobs and by shoring up funding for necessary services to help residents in need.
Once the plan was approved, House Republicans used a parliamentary procedure to block the funding from being distributed. The Republican members voted against giving the plan immediate effect, which could have a devastating result for Michigan. Without gaining immediate effect, any plan approved by the Legislature takes effect 90 days after the body adjourns for the calendar year – meaning that Michigan would have to wait 12 months before the recovery dollars could be used. By that time it would be too late under the provisions of the ARRA, which require the funding to be used within a certain timeframe; funding that is not used will be given to other states that are ready to distribute the funds.
"Unlike the House Republicans, the federal government is not playing games with the stimulus funding," said State Representative George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "Michigan is being given $2.1 billion with one very important stipulation – use it or lose it. This is a dangerous partisan game that the Republicans are playing. They are gambling away Michigan's chance at an economic recovery."