Politics & Government

Barnett Covers Budget, Bridge, Puppy Mills During Coffee Hour

Constituents meet with the Democratic state representative Saturday at Panera in Farmington.

Farmington area residents filled chairs and benches at in Farmington Saturday morning to hear Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37th District) talk about what's happening in state government. 

Here are highlights of the lively discussion, which went on for more than an hour:

Governor Snyder's budget

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The good news, Barnett said, is "there's $6 million for culture and arts." The state budget has not included an arts line item for about a decade, she said. Barnett believes a "cultural infrastructure" will help attract world-class businesses to Michigan. 

There's also $1 million more for agriculture, with $500,000 designated for food safety measures. Cuts over the last several years led to the elimination of programs like bovine tuberculosis inspections, which are important in the control of the disease, particulary among the state's deer population, Barnett said. 

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Where the governor's budget gets "fuzzy mathy", Barnett said, is in K-12 school funding, which Snyder has said will increase. "It really is not an increase," she said. "It is a decrease. All in all, we will be spending less per pupil." She said one-time funding would be available through a competitive bidding process for schools that demonstrate "best practices".

Puppy mill bills

As neighboring states have banned large dog breeder "puppy mills", those operations have begun to locate in Michigan, Barnett said. She's working on a package of bills that would regulate the industry better and protect animals without hurting responsible breeders. She described the legislation as "bipartisan and bicameral" and developed with support from the Michigan Humane Society.

Bridge to Canada

Barnett said a proposed second bridge to Canada is needed and should be a true public-private partnership, placing no burden on taxpayers. Detroit-Windsor is the largest international trading port in the world and will one day play an even bigger role in international trade, she said. The long-term plan is to create a new trade route to move goods to the center of Canada and the U.S., with Detroit and Michigan in the center, she explained, and "that's why the (Michigan) Chamber and the governor are on board." 

Barnett's next coffee hour will be held Thursday, Mar. 15, 7 p.m., at the . Contact her at 517-373-1793 or vickibarnett@house.mi.gov. Visit her state web page to learn more. 


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