Two-Year Budget: Common Sense Solution to Planning and Review

I am enthusiastic that Gov. Rick Snyder supports my plan to take a two-year approach to state spending. Ending the annual budget battles will help free up time for us to focus on revitalizing the state economy and creating jobs. 

My proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4, mirrors my previous attempts in the House to implement a two-year budget, as well as the efforts of former Gov. John Engler.

In the mid-1990s, Engler proposed adoption of two-year state budgets to provide certainty and a planning base for those receiving state aid, such as our schools and local governments.

Like his proposal, my initiative would allow the state to adjust spending as needed while still giving schools and other aid recipients some certainty about their base funding level.  Engler wanted to use it to plan ahead, which is exactly what we need to do now.

There is strong evidence that biennial budgeting is more conducive to program review and evaluation and would also give state policymakers almost 18 months to focus on ways to reduce spending.

It is long overdue that we make this simple reform.  Let’s reduce the time spent arguing about the state budget and more time on reviewing our spending, measuring results and improving efficiency.

We remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a beacon of freedom leading the nation through dark times.

Most importantly, we honor Dr. King as a great man who stood for something greater than himself.

He believed in the greatness of America and led the movement to realize – for all Americans – the founding principle of our nation: that all men are created equal.

One of our greatest qualities as a nation is the ability to continue to grow.

At a time when African American children were banned from going to the same schools as white children, or even using the same drinking fountain, Dr. King had a dream of a day when people would be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

Today, it may be difficult for a young person to grasp the challenges Dr. King faced. For this reason, our nation has set aside a day so that we might recall those hardships. This Martin Luther King Day, let us remember the injustices of the past so that future generations might understand and be tolerant of all people.

For Dr. King’s courageous stand for freedom and opportunity, he paid the ultimate price. While his life was ended much too soon, we must always keep his spirit and ideals alive.

Senate Office is Open and Ready for Business

My Senate office is open and ready to meet the needs of constituents in the 21st Senate District.

Anyone who needs assistance with a state issue or wants to share their legislative viewpoint can contact our office. My top priority will continue to be constituent service; we are prepared to listen. My goal is to provide the best service possible for the hard-working people of Southwest Michigan.

An e-mail address has been established to add convenience for district residents. The e-mail address is senjproos@senate.michigan.gov and the telephone number is 517-373-6960. The mailing address is Senator John Proos, P. O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI, 48909.

Residents may visit my website at http://www.SenatorJohnProos.com.

The office located in Room 820 of the Farnum Building at 125 West Allegan Street in Lansing, across the street from the Michigan Capitol.

We are always eager to welcome residents who are visiting the Capitol or are here to testify before a committee.

The 21st District includes Berrien and Cass counties and most of Van Buren County.