State Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, issued the following statement after today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference:

“These numbers are exactly what we were expecting. There is no ‘shortfall.’ Michigan’s economy is strong and President Trump’s tariffs are working.

“The reality is the state is taking in less revenue as a direct result of intentional decisions House Republicans made after taking back the gavel last year. We cut taxes for workers, seniors, and families by eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security. We also locked in permanent road funding instead of allowing billions to keep flowing into department slush funds, ineffective programs, and pork projects. At the same time, we saved taxpayers millions by cutting waste, fraud, abuse, and eliminating thousands of ghost employee positions.

“That means there is now less money available for Lansing’s usual wasteful spending. Good. That was the point. The state does not need more revenue. It needs to prioritize spending and live within its means like hardworking Michigan families already do every day.

“While the Governor and Senate Democrats have proposed millions in new taxes and fees and a $350 million raid on the rainy-day fund to continue their reckless spending, House Republicans have built another responsible budget using the same playbook as last year. We will continue that work by rooting out more wasteful spending, eliminating more ghost employees, and forcing government to focus on core priorities instead of funding a lavish lifestyle.

“We are putting a stop to Lansing’s ‘let them eat cake’ mentality and putting taxpayers first.”