Donald Trump (File photo)
Donald Trump at the Detroit Economic Club during the campaign.
President Donald Trump's proposed budget hits Michigan right in the gut. Trump may see it as Making America Great Again, but Michiganians may not see it that way.
In fact, columnist Jack Lessenberry writes in Metro Times that "Donald Trump has essentially declared war on Michigan" with his truly horrible "skinny budget" he sent to Congress:
What this budget would do, if Congress were to pass it in its present form, is treat our state almost as if we were a hostile nation at war with Trump's America, one that deserved to have our economy and environment severely damaged or destroyed. . . .
For starters, this budget would set the stage for the environmental destruction of the Great Lakes, our greatest asset and the most important body of fresh water on this planet. For many years, both parties have supported the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
He goes on to write:
Development Block Grants (CDBGs) would become extinct. That would be an immediate funding cut of $31 million for Detroit, and $80 million for other Michigan cities.
Funding for alternative fuel vehicles? Entirely gone. Department of Transportation grants to fix bridges? Bye bye. What about the Economic Development Administration? Sayonara. Same with the Minority Business Development Agency. Both have been important to Detroit.
And to Motown, our president sayeth, Fuck you.
The spending plan, in Lessenberry's view, also aims at the Upper Peninsula -- where Trump had big support in the general election.
Trump is proposing to shut down the Department of Transportation's Essential Air Service, which helps subsidize airports in remote places, the columnist says. That could shut Houghton Memorial Airport, the only one of any size in that vast region, and force people to drive four hours to Green Bay, Wisc., or eight hours to Chicago.
