State Rep. Jay DeBoyer | Michigan House Republicans
State Rep. Jay DeBoyer | Michigan House Republicans
State Representative Jay DeBoyer has criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's priorities and proposals, stating that they align more with a national political agenda rather than addressing the needs of Michigan families. DeBoyer's comments come in response to Whitmer's State of the State address, where she outlined plans for two years of free community college, housing earmarks, green energy incentives, and other costly government ventures.
DeBoyer expressed concern over the significant spending outlined in Whitmer's address, stating, "The 80s music references and antics in her speech were great, but this sounded like a broken record." He emphasized that the state budget for the current fiscal year already exceeds $80 billion, and questioned who would ultimately be responsible for funding these proposals. DeBoyer argued that the governor's approach ignores the impact on taxpayers and the state's attractiveness to current and potential residents.
The State Representative also criticized Whitmer's focus on education, noting that while she touted record funding for schools, very little of that money has been directed towards school safety initiatives or improving educational outcomes. DeBoyer highlighted the findings of the recently created population commission, which reported that seven out of 10 Michigan students struggle with reading and math proficiency. Despite increased spending on K-12 schools, Michigan continues to rank among the bottom 10 states in fourth grade reading proficiency, high school graduation rate, and average SAT scores.
According to DeBoyer, the governor prioritizes unions and teachers over families and students. He argues that funding is directed towards groups and initiatives aligned with Whitmer's political agenda, rather than practical solutions that would address the state's education challenges.
Additionally, DeBoyer criticized Whitmer's housing proposal, stating that it fails to address the underlying issues. He argued that simply throwing money at the problem without addressing factors such as prevailing wage would not effectively solve the housing crisis. DeBoyer expressed concern that the burden of increased government spending would fall on hardworking taxpayers and small business owners.
In conclusion, State Representative Jay DeBoyer has voiced his concerns regarding Governor Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State address. DeBoyer believes that the governor's proposals prioritize a national political agenda over the needs of Michigan families. He argues that the focus on increased spending without addressing fundamental issues and prioritizing unions over families and students hinders the state's progress.