Rep. Thomas Albert – chair of the House Appropriations Committee – issued the following statement after the committee advanced a COVID recovery plan to the House floor:

“Based on the votes in today’s House Appropriations Committee, I am deeply concerned Democrats are looking for reasons to not support this COVID-19 recovery package – denying Michigan families the help they desperately need. Legislative Democrats continue to do the governor’s bidding – seeking to release federal funds with no accountability or oversight of how the money is spent, and attempting to include cash for pet projects that have nothing to do with COVID-19.

“The COVID recovery plan is the first major issue being advanced by the Michigan House in 2021 for good reason – it’s vitally important to everyone in our state. It has to be done right away, and it has to be done right. We must get immediate help to kids who are falling behind in school, families denied a chance to earn a living because of the governor’s COVID restrictions, and the small family businesses hanging onto their life’s work by a thread.  We’ve got to get vaccine to people who want it so they’re protected more quickly and can return to normalcy.

“House Republicans are acting urgently and decisively, and we’re not going to waste time playing politics. I urge Democrats and everyone else to come together, work with us, and get this done for the people of Michigan.”