Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State message was given a mixed response, with Democrats mostly applauding the speech and Republicans largely asking for more specifics. Statements follow:
The following statement is from State Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette):
Tonight, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her first State of the State address, outlining her vision for the state and calling for bipartisan collaboration to address the issues facing Michigan’s working families. In response, state Rep.Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) issued the following statement:
“It was clear tonight that Gov. Whitmer wants to make Michigan a state that once again invests in people. By investing in education, we can focus on attracting business by talent rather than corporate tax giveaways. By being responsible with how we use our natural resources, we can protect our water and environment. And it’s clear that we will fix our roads and infrastructure and lower car insurance rates by working together and making the people’s priorities our top priorities.
“That’s why it was so important for me to invite a leader from the 109th District who exemplifies the heart of his community. A veteran of the U.S. Army and Munising native, Joe Paquette has tirelessly volunteered in the local public schools, was a long-time local firefighter, and helped advocate against the closure of his local hospital. He is known as ‘Mr. 4th of July’ for his leadership in pulling together one of the best celebrations in the north. Joe always stood up for workers’ rights as a union member of Kimberly Clark, now Neenah Paper, and understood the importance of keeping the mill open. Everywhere you go in Alger County, people recognize and know Joe because of his big heart for helping others. I’m honored to have Joe join me in Lansing today.”
State Rep. Beau LaFave, (R-Iron Mountain), weighed in on Tuesday night’s State of the State Address by reiterating the need for crafting a solution to Michigan’s highest-in-the-nation car insurance premiums, and holding the governor accountable for her promises made.
Michigan’s highly controversial no-fault car insurance system forces more than seven million motorists into paying out-of-control rates nearly twice as much as in neighboring states such as Wisconsin. LaFave has been a strong advocate for reform, and has recently been appointed to the bipartisan House Select Committee on Reducing Car Insurance Rates to pursue a solution, with the authority to report legislation directly to the House floor for consideration. LaFave said the governor has failed to provide any meaningful plan on how to save Michigan drivers money.
“Governor Whitmer designated just one sentence of her address to talk about the need for reducing car insurance rates for Michigan drivers,” LaFave said. “The governor couldn’t have been clearer reforming our state’s car insurance system is at the bottom of her to-do list. While she spent 20 minutes talking about the $562 the average driver faces when repairing their damaged vehicles from the pesky potholes scattered across our roadways, she seemed to have forgotten about how much Michigan drivers pay just to drive on our roads insured.”
During the address, the governor reaffirmed her promise to “fix the damn roads,” yet failed to elaborate on how she actually plans to repair the state’s roadways. Michigan is projected to spend more than $4 billion on roads and bridges overall in this budget year – the most in state history. While more can be done, LaFave said he’s curious to see where the governor expects to draw out more funding when the Legislature approved an additional $600 million in road repair funding in 2018.
“The state allocated record funding toward our roads and bridges just this year,” LaFave said. “For the governor to say the Republican-led Legislature should start prioritizing in fixing our state’s roadways – without even laying out her own specific plan when she has had the past two years and a delayed address to come up with one – is disappointing.”
The following is a statement from Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser on Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address delivered tonight before a joint session of the state legislature:
“During the ‘Lost Decade,’ Michigan learned the hard way that we can’t spend our way to prosperity. Due to the poor economic decisions of a previous Democrat Governor, Michigan’s unemployment rate led the nation and tens of thousands fled our state to find opportunity elsewhere. Tonight, Governor Whitmer pledged her administration to the same failed agenda: laying out billions in new government spending without any plan to pay for it. These pie in the sky ideas will result in higher taxes, smaller paychecks, and cost of living increases for Michigan families.
“As for details on her plan to fix the “damn roads,” the Governor was silent, proving there is no real plan behind the catchphrase. New Democrat Governor, same failed Democrat agenda.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (Democrat-Michigan) issued the following statement after tonight’s State of the State Address by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:
“In her State of the State Address tonight, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for legislation to ban any use of mobile devices while driving. I applaud the governor for this life-saving call to action. The Department of State has long advocated for distraction-free driving with the 90,000 Michigan teens who go through our driver education program each year. Such a law would underscore that practice for all drivers. I urge our Legislature to take up the banner for this life-saving legislation.”
Michigan’s leading advocate for small business, NFIB, today offered observations on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State Address this evening.
“Over the last eight years tough policy decisions were made that turned our state around and made us a great state to bring a business, grow a business, or start a business,” said Charlie Owens, state director of NFIB in Michigan. “We are eager to work with Governor Whitmer to keep Michigan on a positive track.”
The Governor announced a new “Opportunity Scholarship” to provide two years of tuition coverage at a community college or nonprofit university to boost the state’s talent pool. This would be in addition to programs to help retrain adults looking for new skills in order to meet the demands for new jobs.
“Finding skilled workers is one of the biggest problems facing small business today, said Owens. “We are interested in efforts to address the problem and are looking forward to more details on these programs and how they will be financed.”
One of the themes that was consistent throughout the speech was the call for a bipartisan approach to solving problems. Owens said that the early move by the Attorney General to collaborate with the legislature on further reforms to Michigan’s civil asset forfeiture laws was a positive move in that direction. “Civil forfeiture laws allow the government to seize private property from a citizen or small business owner without ever charging them with a crime,” said Owens. “It is time for this unfair practice to end.”
On the Governor’s announcement of “leveling the playing field for small business” through an improved procurement process, Owens said that, while such improvements are welcomed, the best way to keep the playing field level for Michigan small businesses is to continue the progress made in improving the state’s overall business climate.
“Michigan has taken the high ground in tax, fiscal, regulatory, and labor policy and we need to hold it,” added Owens.
Owens was also very enthusiastic about the Governor’s commitment to resolve the state’s broken no-fault auto insurance system. “This is a problem that has plagued our state for far too long.”
“We look forward to working with the Governor and we are anxious to see how her agenda aligns with our own Main Street Agenda for 2019,” said Owens.
The following statement is from Brandy Johnson, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), in response to comments about education delivered by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her 2019 State of the State speech.
“Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s inaugural State of the State address drew a crucial connection among Michigan’s talent pool, economic vitality and the need for postsecondary attainment. MCAN is thrilled not only with Gov. Whitmer’s ‘Blueprint’ to prioritize both K-12 and postsecondary education, but also with her bold vision of a 60 percent postsecondary attainment goal—a goal that aligns with MCAN’s agenda and aims to prepare Michigan’s residents for the jobs of tomorrow.
We applaud Gov. Whitmer’s efforts to make education a priority for all students by calling for investments in education to address the talent gap. Affordability is a major barrier for Michigan families, and we believe the creation of the Michigan Opportunity Scholarship, which will provide a two-year debt-free pathway through Michigan’s community colleges or funding toward a four-year degree, will be an important stepping stone for students considering education beyond high school. We are also pleased she announced the ‘Michigan Reconnect’ program that will enable adults to earn a postsecondary credential valued in today’s labor market.
The bottom line is simple: college should be accessible for all. Today’s students need a postsecondary credential to succeed in a 21st century economy. We stand ready to partner with the Governor, her administration, and the state Legislature to implement and support these important initiatives.”
This message is from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy:
In her first “State of the State” address, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for six expansions of government and one limitation. This is fewer proposed expansions than the average number coming from previous governors’ State of the State speeches, at least since Gov. William Millikin in the 1970s.
Past governors have used their annual address to announce new programs and initiatives that they hoped to implement, many of which would require an expansion of government. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has tallied the expansions and limitations in the State of the State addresses for the previous five governors. The tally of expansions and limitations is not meant as a comment on whether these proposed changes are positive or negative.
“The State of the State offered more perspective on Gov. Whitmer’s intentions for the coming year, but the devil will be in the details,” said Michael LaFaive, senior director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center. “How much will fixing everything that allegedly ails Michigan cost? To what degree, if any, will Michigan families’ budgets need to shrink in order to pay for a larger state budget?”
Throughout her address, Gov. Whitmer reiterated many of her campaign promises as she laid out her policy agenda for the next four years. The following were expansions of state government proposed by Gov. Whitmer:
- Calling for a law to ban using your hands to talk on a cell phone while driving.
- Expanding the Elliot Larson Act, Michigan’s law preventing discrimination based on age, race, sex and other areas to the LGBTQ community.
- Launching the Michigan Reconnect program for “displaced workers.”
- Creating a “Michigan Opportunity Scholarship,” which would provide two years of free tuition at a community college or similar time at a four-year, nonprofit college.
- A potential rollback of Michigan’s law requiring able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid to seek work, volunteer or be in school.
- New agency offices of the Clean Water Public Advocate and the Environmental Justice Public Advocate.
The governor proposed the following limitation on state government:
- Calling for expanding Michigan’s public records act to the governor’s office and the state Legislature.
Here are the past number of expansions and limitations by gubernatorial administration since 1969.
Gov. Milliken, 1969-1982 | Avg. | High | Low |
Proposed expansions | 5.6 | 12 (’71, ’80) | 0 (’74) |
Proposed limitations | 2.9 | 8 (’73) | 0 (’70, ’79, ’82) |
Gov. Blanchard, 1983-1990 | Avg. | High | Low |
Proposed expansions | 8.6 | 19 (’89, ’90) | 1 (’85) |
Proposed limitations | 2.1 | 7 (’84) | 0 (’87, ’88) |
Gov. Engler, 1991-2002 | Avg. | High | Low |
Proposed expansions | 8.4 | 18 (’00) | 3 (’91) |
Proposed limitations | 4.3 | 11 (’95) | 1 (’02, ’97, ’03) |
Gov. Granholm, 2003-2010 | Avg. | High | Low |
Proposed expansions | 16.3 | 24 (’08) | 7 (’05) |
Proposed limitations | 3.0 | 6 (’03) (’09) | 0 (’05) |
Gov. Snyder, 2011-2018 | Avg. | High | Low |
Proposed expansions | 7.9 | 12 (’16)(’17) | 5 (’12)(’18) |
Proposed limitations | 1.3 | 3 (’11) | 0 (’16)(’18) |