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Labor backing Whitmer roads plan

To the Journal editor:

Michigan’s roads are the worst in the country.

Last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Michigan infrastructure an overall grade of D-plus, and gave our roads a D-minus, with just 18 percent of Michigan roads in so-called “good” condition.

This amounts to the average Michigan driver spending $646 per year on car repairs. If we don’t act now and raise the revenue we need to fix our roads the right way, with the right materials, the cost of repairs will continue to go up for Michigan drivers.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has put a serious plan on the table that will finally fix our roads and help attract businesses and jobs to our state. This month, she introduced a budget that will raise the $2.5 billion we need to get 90 percent of Michigan roads to good or fair condition by 2030, and create thousands of good-paying jobs in the process.

It includes phasing in a fuel tax of 15 cents a gallon every six months from Oct. 1, 2019 through Oct. 1, 2020, which will cost the average driver an additional $23 per month. To help mitigate the costs for our seniors, she has a plan to repeal the Retirement Tax, which will save 400,000 households an average of $800 a year.

This plan will put this money into a constitutionally protected fund so it only goes toward our roads and infrastructure. No more raiding the road fund to pay for politicians special projects.

The governor’s roads plan will help create thousands more good-paying jobs for skilled-trades men and women. With her plan, we can ensure our roads get fixed the right way by well-trained workers so taxpayers get the best value from our money, and they can earn a good living and support their family.

This plan will benefit families in the Upper Peninsula. Seven of the top 10 counties in terms of percentage increase in new funding are actually in the U.P., and of those seven, almost all of them will see a more than 40 percent increase in funding. Better roads will also mean a boost for local economies and attract more mines and mills to our area.

I’m proud to support the governor’s plan to finally fix the damn roads, and I encourage my brothers and sisters in the U.P. to partner with her so we can get the job done right.

GENO ALESSANDRINI, business manager

Michigan Laborer’s District Council

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