State Rep. John Proos Friday (October 23rd) called on the governor to maintain Michigan State University’s century-old statewide outreach network which educates farmers, community leaders and children, and said that if she chooses to veto the program, he’d work tirelessly for a veto override by the Legislature.

Proos said the myriad of local services provided by the outreach network play a vital role in boosting one of the state’s largest industries – agriculture – and yet all indications are that the governor will veto the program’s funding.

“A veto to this critical program would be a huge blow to the agriculture industry and the economy,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “The governor’s moves are punitive and intended to target Republicans who wouldn’t allow a tax increase. Unfortunately, this veto shows that the governor is playing politics, when her focus should be creating jobs.”

The Extension was founded in 1907 when Michigan State College hired its first livestock field agent and was expanded by the Michigan State Legislature five years later. In 1914, Congress created the Cooperative Extension System which was assigned to land grant universities like Michigan State University to oversee.

Today, MSU Extension receives 13 percent of its funding from the federal government; 28 percent from the counties, 16 percent from outside grants and 42.6 percent is appropriated by the state. The state also provides 80 percent of the budget for the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) program.

Earlier this week, the governor put 51 schools at risk of financial failure by vetoing $50 million from the Legislature’s K-12 Education budget. She was playing politics with our children’s education and attempting to bolster her claim that state taxes need to be increased.

“The Legislature sent the governor a bipartisan plan that balanced the budget without raising taxes and keeps these important agriculture programs in place,” Proos said. “This is what is wrong with Lansing — politics trump sound economic policy. These programs are too important to our communities to let go without a fight, and I will do everything in my power to protect them.”

MSU Extension currently has offices in all 83 Michigan counties and sponsors such programs as 4-H Youth Program, the Master Gardener and Master Woodland Manager programs, Citizen Planner Program and others.

Source:  News release from Michigan House Republicans