Muskegon Sun

State Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) is at the forefront of a movement aimed at restoring several of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s vetoes and returning upward of $573 million to the state budget.

“The action taken by the legislature today gives the governor an opportunity to restore crucial funding that her October vetoes removed from schools and programs throughout my district and from communities throughout the state,” Bumstead said in a press release following the Dec. 4 passage of two bills. “Schools have started without state payments, sheriff’s departments are preparing for layoffs, and foster programs face closing their doors.”

Senate Bills 376 and 377 would change that, restoring funding to what supporters of the measures refer to as some of the state’s most-critical state services.

In the end, Bumstead, who also serves as Senate Appropriations Committee vice chair, said he is hoping that Whitmer will prove willing to work with lawmakers in putting the needs of state residents above everything else.

“I understand we have our differences, but many of the things she vetoed were common-ground, agreeable issues,” he said in the release. “The legislation passed today gives her an opportunity to correct the unfortunate situation we currently find ourselves in.”

Among programs and services the bills would restore funding for are treatment Alzheimer’s disease, autism and opioid addiction, cuts made to local police departments and rural and critical care hospitals.