State Representative Kathy Schmaltz voted no on the most recent budget that contained the money for the Hayes Hotel project ($4.5 million) and Andy’s Place ($3 million). She said hidden cuts in other area was a big concern across party lines.

“That’s right and no Republican was going to vote and believe me when some of the Democrats found out that there was the 300 million cut it was not good. There was a lot of back and forth on that because that was just ridiculous that was even in the budget and there is no way a republican would vote for anything like that to take that money away from our kids. That was just the wrong thing to do but my office was also always, we always look for other plans if they’re for some reason the Hayes Hotel money wasn’t in the bucket if the opioid money wasn’t in the budget we were going to find alternative ways to find the money to fund those projects.”

Schmaltz recently awarded by the Michigan Chamber as a Champion of Free Enterprise.

Well thank you! You know it’s always an honor to receive any award but the champion of free enterprise it was from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and it means that I’m a strong supporter a small business and economic development. Of course, I’ll always fight for policies to help our businesses Thrive and be successful whether it’s less red tape and burdensome regulations and more of the Strategic Outreach and attraction the sore money that we hand out or pushing to make sure more that money goes to small businesses instead of large corporations. So, it’s very honored and privileged through receive this award and I think both of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and I’ve been fortunate because I’ve been endorsed by the Chamber of the Detroit chamber the Michigan manufacturers Association National Federation of Independent Business.”