UP Gazette

Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, issued a statement last week responding to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address by addressing several key issues facing the state of Michigan.

McBroom mentioned that the governor touched on a number of important reforms that the state Legislature was able to put together last year and that he is hopeful for more immediate success in 2020.

However, the senator did express his concern for the need for improvement to local roads.

Michigan Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) | McBroom's website

“That the governor already decided to act alone, however, to borrow billions of dollars to fix only some of the Lower Peninsula’s roads concerns me,” said McBroom in a release. “By going it alone, she is abandoning the local community roads, especially in the U.P., that arguably need the most work. So, while I appreciate her urgency, we need a real long-term plan to fix all the roads, and I am eager to work toward a solution.”

The senator also stated that while he appreciated the governor’s comments on the current state of education, he would like to spend more time working together on further supporting both apprenticeship programs and colleges alike to better prepare students for the future.

“That said, the governor’s speech was otherwise light on specifics concerning many other big issues facing our state, and the U.P. specifically. From Line 5, to agriculture, forestry and manufacturing, there are many challenges we all face, and I am ready to work together to overcome them.”

McBroom’s welcomed guests at the State of the State address included Kevin Store, executive director of the Portage Health Foundation in Hancock, and Jim Carey, of the Michigan Association of Timbermen Self-Insurers’ Fund in Channing.

“I am thankful that Kevin and Jim made the trip to Lansing to be my guests for this year’s State of the State address,” McBroom said. “I am always appreciative when folks from back home are able to join me in Lansing.”