State Rep. Ron Robinson today criticized Sen. Kevin Hertel for reversing course on critical funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base and ultimately supporting a plan that ties the project to unrelated spending and budget negotiations.

Nearly two months ago, Robinson and his House colleagues approved a bipartisan supplemental that included $152 million to begin construction of new runways at Selfridge. The funding is critical to support a new fighter mission announced last year by Donald Trump and to meet an accelerated 2028 timeline that requires the state to act in May. The Senate vote yesterday ties the funding to the passage of a new state budget, which last year took until October and is not due this year until July.

“I fought to get this funding done and get it done fast,” said Robinson (R-Utica). “Selfridge is too important to get wrapped up in Lansing politics.”

During Senate action this week, Republicans offered an amendment to ensure the supplemental focused solely on Selfridge funding so construction could begin immediately. Hertel and several Senate Democrats initially voted in support of that approach before reversing course and backing a broader, pork-filled spending plan tied to ongoing budget negotiations.

“They had a chance to keep this clean and get it done,” Robinson said. “Sen. Hertel voted for a standalone Selfridge plan, then backed off and helped pack it with unrelated spending. Under his new plan, this critical funding cannot pass until a new state budget is passed, which won’t get the job done. That’s a flip-flop, plain and simple.”

Robinson said tying Selfridge funding to a larger spending package risks unnecessary delays at a critical time. The runway project is key to securing the incoming F-15EX fighter mission, protecting roughly 5,000 jobs, and ensuring the base remains viable for decades. President Trump, the Air Force, the state House, and Gov. Whitmer all agree the project must be started in the next few weeks in order for Selfridge to get the new fighter mission.

“We already passed a bipartisan plan in the House to get this moving right away,” Robinson said. “Instead of following through, Senate Democrats turned it into a bargaining chip and tied it pork projects and other budget items that can be figured out later.”

Robinson called on the Senate to pass a clean supplemental and move the project forward without delay.

“This should not be complicated,” Robinson said. “Fund Selfridge. Get construction started. Protect the mission and the jobs. No games.”