LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her annual State of the State address Wednesday evening.
Her speech took place in the Michigan House chambers in front of a joint session of the state House and Senate with Democrats in the majority.
Whitmer opened up highlighting the history made in the Michigan Legislature with Rep. Joe Tate, the first Black speaker, and Sen. Winnie Brinks, the first woman majority leader.
“They will certainly not be the last,” Whitmer said. “Speaker Tate, Majority Leader Brinks, Minority Leader Hall and Minority Leader Nesbitt, I look forward to our partnership centered on problem solving. It’s what Michiganders deserve.”
Whitmer called on President Joe Biden to continue supporting the Michigan National Guard “and continue to base a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.”
Whitmer also acknowledged state employees, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
“You’ve been strong allies and great friends. I’m looking forward to more good work together,” the governor said.
In her speech, she highlighted lowering costs in Michigan, education, public safety and gun laws.
LOWERING COSTS IN MICHIGAN
Whitmer focused on families who are “feeling the pinch right now” at the grocery store, with medical costs and higher education costs.
“We might not be able to solve inflation or supply chain issues on our own, but we must work together to lower costs and put Michiganders on the path to a brighter future,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer said she wants to focus on hard-working residents, youth preparing to graduate and Michigan children, making the state more competitive.
One of her proposals, "Lowering MI Costs," is a plan she says will offer immediate relief and has three parts: rolling back the retirement tax, expanding the "Working Families Tax Credit," and pre-K for all.
She said it’s already been introduced to Reps. Angela Witwer and Nate Shannon and Sens. Kevin Hertel and Kristen McDonald Rivet.
Whitmer says repealing the retirement tax will save 50,000 households an average of $1,000 a year.
The Working Families Tax Credit, a bipartisan tax break at the federal and state levels, will give an average refund of at least $3,000 to 70,000 families.
“These two tax changes will right a wrong inflicted on Michiganders 12 years ago. In 2011, seniors and hardworking families had the rug ripped out from under them when the retirement tax was enacted, and the Working Families Tax Credit was gutted. It was wrong. Now, we can make it right,” Whitmer said.
To give preschoolers access to free, public education, Whitmer proposed the "Great Start to Readiness Program."
“This investment will ensure children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and saves their families upwards of $10,000 a year. It helps parents, especially moms, go back to work. And it will launch hundreds more preschool classrooms across Michigan, supporting thousands of job,” she said.
ATTRACTING TALENT AND BEING COMPETITIVE
She also spoke about attracting young people to the state by focusing on economic opportunity and personal freedom. She announced "Make it in Michigan," which would fund economic development efforts.
“As they decide where to live, we must make sure Michigan is the answer, not just for a few years but for the rest of their lives by creating opportunity that lasts for decades,” Whitmer said.
She said she’s met with business leaders across the country and world to try to attract more businesses to Michigan.
“To quote our great senior Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan ‘makes stuff and grows stuff.’ Let’s develop that core strength by manufacturing the building blocks of the future in Michigan. Let’s keep bringing supply chains of cars and chips home. And let’s increase domestic clean energy production, like wind and solar, so we can produce more energy in America instead of overseas,” Whitmer said.
She pushed to keep funding the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which lowers higher education costs. She also pushed lowering the age of Michigan Reconnect from 25 to 21. Michigan Reconnect offers tuition-free associate’s degrees and skills training.
Whitmer spoke on repealing the 1931 law banning abortion and expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
“Together, we are going to change Michigan from a state with century-old bans to forward looking protections,” she said. “Our message is simple: we will fight for your freedom.”
PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION FUNDING
The governor proposed investments to public safety and education.
Whitmer wants MI Kids Back on Track to offer kids personalized learning support for success with tutoring, after-school programs and other support.
She said she wants Michigan to keep investing in law enforcement’s training, oversite and mental health resources.
Whitmer spoke on crime in the state, saying there’s been a rise in break-ins at gun dealerships, leading to more illegal guns on streets.
She pushed for enacting universal background checks, risk protection orders and safe storage laws.
“Despite pleas from Oxford families, these issues never even got a hearing in the Legislature. This year, let’s change that and work together to stop the violence and save lives. I want to thank Sen. Bayer and Rep. Brabec for their leadership on this issues,” Whitmer said.
“And I want to be very clear: I’m not talking about law-abiding citizens. Hunters and responsible gun owners from both sides of the aisle know that we need to get these commonsense gun safety proposals across the finish line.”
INFRASTRURE AND CLIMATE
She went on to talk about infrastructure and climate. She says billions of federal resources are coming to the state to invest in infrastructure including the roads.
“We must pursue climate action while creating jobs, lowering costs and becoming a hub of clean energy production,” Whitmer said.
GOP RESPONSE
The Michigan Republican Party released a video from Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt in response to Whitmer's address.
