Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new budget plan tries to balance the books with a combination of tax hikes, fee increases, a raid on the rainy day fund and significant new spending. That’s no way to build the foundation of a strong state economy.

The people of Michigan deserve better. Families understand how important it is to live within their means and balance their checkbook. They deserve a government that can do the same. We cannot allow the state government to threaten our economic stability with irresponsible ideas and massive tax hikes.

Fortunately, we know a better path forward. House Republicans proved just last year that we can significantly cut excessive spending in this bloated government and aggressively attack fraud. That’s how we funded billions in local road repairs and provided record school funding while shrinking spending overall. If we finally put in the effort needed to firmly combat waste, fraud and abuse, we could put Michigan back on track towards a balanced budget and economic success without raising taxes on families.

Last year, House Republicans identified billions in wasteful spending throughout the state budget.

We cut more than 2,000 ghost employees, ended duplicative programs and rooted out excessive spending by adopting real accountability and transparency requirements for special projects in the state budget. We demonstrated that by cutting waste, fraud and abuse, we can use taxpayer dollars more effectively to make critical investments in key infrastructure and programs. We can do it again.

The proposal from the governor does not answer the biggest challenge we face — making life more affordable for the people we serve. Michigan families are struggling, and addressing the cost of living should be a central priority for everyone in Lansing. Instead of solving the underlying economic problems that hurt families across our state, Whitmer’s plan leans into them. Her proposal uses almost a billion dollars in tax hikes as a quick fix, making a mockery of the financial hurdles that families face every day. It will not work.

There are some good things in the governor’s proposal where we can work together. She proudly took credit for President Donald Trump’s “No Tax on Tips, Overtime, and Social Security” plan that we passed last year, and she joined us in a call for significant property tax reform. Those are good plans that can make life in Michigan more affordable and make government spending more sustainable. I believe we can find agreement there and help Michigan families make ends meet. But all that work would be undone if we allow the governor to give back to taxpayers with one hand and reach into their pocket with the other.

We all need to put in the work and actually find savings in the state budget. Government spending is up more than 40% since Whitmer took office, and some departments have doubled in size. House Republicans took a stand last year, and the budget shrunk for the first time in decades. That is the path forward to prosperity and helping taxpayers actually get ahead.

It is time to go to work and create a balanced budget that prioritizes financial common sense. Michigan’s future is waiting. I hope the governor will join us.

Originally published in Detroit News on 02/26/2026 at 7:50pm EST.