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Governor Gretchen Whitmer went with a positive tone of bipartisanship and a willingness to move forward in her first State of the State address Tuesday night.
She started with a tribute to the late Congressman John Dingell, who had been the longest serving member of Congress, by saying he showed that people can work together to get things done. “He was the epitome of what I think we in Michigan know—you don’t have to be mean to be strong,” said Whitmer.
Whitmer emphasized that the problems facing Michigan are not the fault of one governor or one political party, but pointed out that these issues have been getting worse over the past three decades. “Solving this crisis will not be easy. We did not get here overnight. This is a challenge 30 years in the making—the results of under investment across multiple administrations. We need to act now, though, before a catastrophe happens or the situation becomes truly unrecoverable,” she said.
The two main crises the state must address, according to Whitmer, are the crumbling infrastructure and improving access to education, including training in the skilled trades.
Whitmer highlighted the moves she has already made with her executive directives aimed at increasing transparency on all levels of government, ending discrimination based on gender or sexual identity, closing the wage gap for women, and creating a level playing field for small businesses.
She laid out her goals starting with her three paths for education which would provide training for adults so they can take advantage of the jobs that are available, free community college for qualified Michigan students, and provide tuition assistance for up to two years for those looking to attend a not-for-profit four-year college.
Whitmer said “I’m announcing a new statewide goal of increasing the number of Michiganders between the ages of 16 and 64 with a post-secondary credential to 60 percent by 2030.”
Whitmer also vowed to defend the Healthy Michigan Plan and the Affordable Care Act to provide health care coverage for all.
She laid out her plan for the new Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy—which replaces the Department of Environmental Quality—and said Michigan will work to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Climate Accords. Whitmer said, “We had wind chills 50 below zero. Last week, it was 50 above and you know what it’s like out there today–a 100 degree swing in five days and a reminder that climate change and extreme weather are already putting Michiganders at risk.”
She stressed the importance of continuing to pass a balanced budget on time, which she says she will be presenting soon.
The Governor also touched on auto insurance reform and expressed her willingness to work with Republicans on this issue, but also warned that she would veto any legislation she feels would infringe on the people’s right to call for a voter referendum.
The following links were issued by Governor Whitmer’s office:
