While large chunks of social media response on the morning after the President’s State of the Union address focused on a missed hand shake and a ceremonial destruction of a signed copy of the prepared speech, there are many responses that address the issues either talked about or left unsaid through the night. Here is a compilation of responses from Michigan, including members of the congressional delegation.
Last night, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address from the East Lansing High School where her daughters attend classes.
In her response, the governor stayed focused on the problems Democrats across the country have taken action on, like rebuilding our infrastructure, creating paths to good-paying jobs, and improving health care, while contending that Republicans in Washington work to move our country backward.
She pointed out, “Right now, more than 275 bipartisan bills are gathering dust on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel’s desk, and Republicans in Washington are working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and rip health coverage away from people with pre-existing conditions.” In her response, the governor highlighted work Democratic governors across the country are doing to improve access to health care.
Whitmer said, “Instead of looking after people with pre-existing conditions, the president is asking the courts to rip those life-saving protections away, and every other benefit Americans have under the Affordable Care Act,” and added, “It’s pretty simple. Democrats are trying to make your health care better. Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away.”
In her State of the State address a week ago, Governor Whitmer urged Republicans in the legislature to work across the aisle to enshrine protections for people with pre-existing conditions into state law. In the Michigan House, Democratic Reps. Padma Kuppa, John Hoadley, and Matt Koleszar have offered a proposal to protect Michiganders’ access to health care in case the president is successful in dismantling the ACA.
The governor also highlighted action she and Democratic governors are taking to fix our infrastructure so everyone can drive to work and drop their kids at schools safely, saying, “During my campaign, people told me to fix the damn roads, because blown tires and broken windshields are downright dangerous, and car repairs take money from rent, child care, or groceries. And we, the Democrats, are doing something about it.”
Last week, as part of her Rebuilding Michigan plan, the governor asked the State Transportation Commission to issue $3.5 billion in state road bonds to fix Michigan’s most highly-traveled state roads and freeways. The Commission voted 6-0 the following morning to approve the bonds, meaning the state can start moving dirt and fixing the roads this construction season.
The governor also focused on jobs and the economy in her remarks, suggesting, “It doesn’t matter what the president says about the stock market, what matters is that millions of people struggle to get by or don’t have enough at the end of the month after paying for transportation, student loans, or prescription drugs. American workers are hurting. In my own state. Our neighbors in Wisconsin. And Ohio. And Pennsylvania. All over the country. Wages have stagnated, while CEO pay has skyrocketed.”
Whitmer says that since she was sworn in as Governor, Michigan has announced nearly 11,000 new good-paying auto jobs for Michiganders, and last year she “gave tens of thousands of Michigan workers a raise by directing the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to expand the right to overtime pay.” The governor also highlighted Democratic governors’ work across the country to raise wages for hardworking families.
Governor Whitmer ended her response by urging the American people to stay focused on what their leaders are doing for them, not just what they say, suggesting, “Remember, listen to what people say, but watch what they do.” She concluded, “It’s time for action. Generations of Americans are counting on us. Let’s not let them down.”
In Southwest Michigan, Congressman Fred Upton issued the following statement after President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union Address:
“Tonight during the State of the Union, I wore a purple tie in unity with the Problem Solvers Caucus to highlight the fact that there are not red issues or blue issues. Rather, both parties need to come together to solve the issues that are facing all Americans.
“During tonight’s speech, I was especially pleased with the President’s call for increased funding for health care research and his call for $50 million for childhood cancers. We will continue to prioritize Cures 2.0, an important idea to increase access to life-saving cures and a top priority in 2020. I’m ready to work with anyone who is focused on creating solutions and doing what is right.
“The best of tonight were the distinguished guests – like Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee and his great-grandson – who make us all proud. The worst of tonight was the partisan behavior that doesn’t reflect our better angels. We can do better.”
U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement after the President delivered his address:
“There is a lot more we can do to help working families in Michigan and across the country. I hope that we can find common ground and make progress on issues important to Michiganders: lowering prescription drug costs and expanding skills training and apprenticeship programs. We should build on some of the successful career and technical education programs in Michigan — like in Saginaw where Rick Burmeister, President of the Saginaw Intermediate School District board – is working with educators to ensure students get the training needed to pursue successful careers. We should also focus on efforts to protect the Great Lakes and our drinking water, repair our crumbling infrastructure and effectively secure our borders.”
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow released a statement following President Trump’s State of the Union Address:
“Contrary to the President’s remarks this evening, this Administration has been relentless in its efforts to take health care away from Michigan families. Health care is personal—not political. That’s especially true for Michigan’s Andrea Pietrowsky, who joined me tonight as my guest at the State of the Union. Her 5-year-old daughter, Louisa, was born with a severe congenital heart defect and has undergone three major surgeries. Without the Affordable Care Act, Louisa would likely be uninsurable and her family would face bankruptcy. Andrea is concerned about her family’s future and the future for families across our state. Health care is a basic human right, and I remain focused on protecting care and lowering costs for Michigan families.”
Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement in response to the President’s address:
“Unemployment is at its lowest point in fifty years, wages are rising for all skill levels, and 60,000 Michiganders have been lifted out of poverty because of President Trump’s pro-growth agenda. By renegotiating trade deals to put Americans first and implementing pro-growth policies such as tax cuts, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have helped create new opportunities for hardworking Americans and delivered the strongest economy in decades.”
State Senator Kim LaSata of Bainbridge Township issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s State of the Union address and the opposition response from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:
“President Trump spoke to us about how, under his leadership, our economy has been energized, resulting in more job creation, rising wages and lower unemployment. I appreciate that he is steadfast in his pursuit to deliver real, meaningful results for all Americans.
“The president’s leadership and what he has helped accomplish for our country contrasts greatly from what we are seeing from our governor. In her response to the president’s speech, Gov. Whitmer said that we should not only be listening to what our leaders say, but to focus on what they are doing.
“While the president’s pro-growth agenda has fostered unparalleled economic successes, our governor’s tax and spend policies will lead to economic decline. Whereas the president’s broad agenda is benefitting many, the governor’s go-it-alone, borrow-and-spend roads agenda will only benefit parts of our state at the expense of the rest of us, saddling future generations with billions in unresolved debt and no plan to pay for it.
“Michigan came back from its lost decade of similar misguided philosophies through smart budgeting, strategic investments and efficient and effective governing. To continue that momentum and to make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family, Southwest Michigan residents expect and deserve leaders who work together.”
