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Ahead of Possible State Senate Vote, Snyder Sounding More Open to Road Funding Plan

Road construction - file photo by WMUK
WMUK

(MPRN-Lansing) The state Senate could vote Tuesday on a proposal to boost road funding. Ahead of that vote, Gov. Rick Snyder appears to be warming to the plan which would make big cuts to the state budget. 

Snyder says he’s glad the state House voted on the road funding legislation last week. That $1 billion plan diverts $600 million from the state’s general fund and includes a possible rollback in the state’s income tax rate.

Snyder has been tepid about similar cuts in past plans. But he notes the new proposal pushes those cuts father into the future.

“Well, I concerned about it,” said Snyder. “But what we’re doing now is looking at our budget forecasts for the future – what years they’re looking at – because they have gone farther out to the future. So, I think they took some positive steps.”

And he acknowledges that any boost in road funding will require a lot of

“It’s whatever is the best answer and what’s an answer that we can get done.”

Democrats have criticized the plan. They say it’s fiscally irresponsible and would make cuts to critical state programs. The governor says his office is reviewing the proposal. He has not said whether he’d sign it if it gets to his desk.

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