On the heels of her third State of the State address last night, a broad array of legislators, business groups, education associations, political analysts and health care officials among others have checked in with their reactions to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s comments, plans and direction. Here is a sampling of what has been made available to us:
State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2021 State of the State address:
“This is the third State of the State in which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has outlined her plans and called on the Legislature to work with her, but her actions in recent years have shown she feels otherwise. She chose to go it alone on roads, she chose to redo the state budget as she saw fit and she has chosen to take on this pandemic alone.
“Emergencies such as this require teamwork, and unfortunately, that’s not what we have seen out of the administration.
“As we move into the new year, we need to focus on getting Michigan businesses back open and giving workers and business owners a degree of certainty that they deserved months ago.
“What matters far more than a speech are actions. We need to get people back to work, efficiently distribute the vaccine, provide meaningful relief to small businesses that will help jumpstart Michigan’s economy and work on a responsible balanced budget.”
State Sen. Kim LaSata, R-Bainbridge Township, made the following statement in response to Gov. Whitmer’s State of the State address Wednesday night:
“It is time to get Michigan back on track toward a healthier future for our families and our economy and for the long-term well-being of our state. The coronavirus pandemic and the governor’s go-it-alone response to it have created unthinkable challenges for Southwest Michigan families and families across the state for too long.
“I am hopeful that Gov. Whitmer is sincere when she says that she wants to partner with lawmakers on a plan to help our state recover after a year of incredible losses. However, we have heard her say this before and actions speak louder than words.
“My colleagues and I recently presented a comprehensive list of legislative priorities that we are beginning to work on. Among many other things, we must support our hardworking families and those who have lost their jobs, revitalize small businesses and the economy, safeguard the health and well-being of our seniors, ensure students receive the quality education they deserve, and restore the balance in state government so that people have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.
“I am eager to work with anyone on implementing these solutions.”
Michigan Freedom Fund Executive Director Tony Daunt provided the following statement in response to Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address:
“Almost 359,000 Michiganians who want to work can’t find a job. 64,000 workers lost their jobs last month alone. Roughly 20,000 more people file for unemployment every week. The unemployment rate is double what it was in January of last year. It’s higher than the rate in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota – and Michigan’s COVID-19 death rate is higher, too.
“Governor Whitmer’s only answer tonight to struggling families is tax giveaways for big businesses, road funding she already vetoed, and six extra weeks of unemployment benefits for out-of-work residents – an extension the legislature already passed and the governor already vetoed.
“If she wants to make a difference for families, she should start by opening the economy. Workers should not be forced to beg their government to let them survive.”
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), offered observations on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State Address:
On the Governor’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan and supplemental budget request, NFIB State Director Charlie Owens was less than enthusiastic. “While being appreciative of any effort to help small businesses struggling from the pandemic, the governor’s proposal, after unrelated projects are subtracted, leaves only $107 million for actual direct assistance to small business,” said Owens. “This is in contrast to the House Republican recovery proposal that includes $680.5 million in assistance to businesses.”
Regarding the governor’s proposals for improving the economy and jobs, Owens said the most important move the governor could make is to relax the shutdowns and restrictions and open Michigan’s economy. “Federal and state efforts to assist small business are not practical nor sustainable over an extended period,” said Owens. “Small business in Michigan want to work, to be open, to provide jobs, and to bring back their employees to work, letting them do so will boost our economy sooner than any government program or plan.”
The governor’s efforts to permanently extend unemployment benefits from 20 to 26 weeks is a non-starter for small business, said Owens. “The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is already on the edge of being depleted and employers will be on the hook for loans from the federal government to continue paying benefits,” said Owens. “There is no shortage of available jobs now and with the economy reopened there would be no need for extending benefits.”
“The proposal to expand local road funding options is something our small business members do not support,” said Owens. “Small business owners fear that allowing local governments to create their own gas taxes and vehicle registration fees would lead to a patchwork of local taxes around the state that would encourage motorists to drive elsewhere for gas or avoid moving into areas with these new fees and taxes. They are also concerned that local governments would purposely hold the voting on local road taxes on election dates when turn out is low to increase the likelihood of passage.”
Owens said the real key to getting Michigan back on track is to restore the legislature’s role in policymaking and end the unilateral management of the state’s affairs by the Executive Branch. “It is time to remove the obstacles imposed by the governor, and the agencies under her direct control that are hindering the ability of small business to return Michigan to the prosperity that existed before the coronavirus pandemic,” said Owens. “The most important part of that objective will be to restore the rightful role of the legislature in policy making and governance.”
Michigan Community College President Michael Hansen issued the following statement following Governor Whitmer’s 2021 State of the State address:
“Michigan community colleges are proud to partner with Governor Whitmer and the Legislature to create new educational and career-focused opportunities for Michiganders now and into the future. While the pandemic created extra challenges for everyone in our state, the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs will help hardworking residents gain new skills and advance their careers.
“These innovative programs are great examples of bipartisanship in action and we are pleased to help facilitate them. We hope to see more collaborative efforts like this in 2021 and beyond.”
Great Lakes Education Project Executive Director Beth DeShone provided the following comment after Governor Gretchen Whitmer ignored attempts by the Department of Education to hide school performance data and refused to demand that schools immediately re-open for Michigan students during her State of the State address:
“Moms and dads tuned in tonight hoping and praying they’d finally see leadership from the governor and a plan to stem the education crisis sweeping away our state’s future one lost education at a time. Parents certainly weren’t surprised, though, that the Governor again ignored so many of their kids, or that her Department of Education has filed waiver requests to hide the crisis and critical school data from families.”
“Governor Whitmer wasted 10 months of potential planning time for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, landing Michigan 44th in the nation earlier this month for immunization rate, while outbreaks raged in nursing homes and assisted living facilities where at-risk seniors went tragically unvaccinated.
“The Governor and her administration have shown just as little leadership, foresight, or planning to stem the education crisis caused by her anti-science school lockdowns. Our kids deserve better. They deserve open schools and an education system committed to their success.
“Whitmer should start by getting schools open safely now – not in March – and must forcefully and publicly reject the attempt by the Michigan Department of Education to ignore the problem of learning loss caused by her decision to lock kids out of classrooms.”
Multiple organizations engaging Direct Care Workers responded with a combined statement:
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer tonight unveiled a plan to make permanent a temporary $2.00/hour wage increase for Direct Care Workers, currently set to expire on Feb. 28.
“Residential and vocational Direct Care Workers provide much-needed personal care, training, emotional support and respite to vulnerable people and their families.
“The Governor understands well what we’ve been saying for many months now—when this increase ultimately expires, our state’s historically-underpaid Direct Care Workers are going to take a huge financial hit,” said Sherri Boyd, executive director of The Arc—Michigan. “The 100,000-plus families that rely on these workers for daily care will be left facing a critical gap in staffing and support if this temporary increase goes away four weeks from now, as it’s currently set to do.”
A strong coalition of organizations has come together to support the need for permanent changes to the way Michigan’s Direct Care Workers are supported.
“This is one of the most critical issues facing our state right now,” said Todd Culver, CEO of Incompass-Michigan. “The fact that all leaders in Lansing can agree this is a top priority is a very positive indicator that we’ll be able to help keep Direct Care Workers on the job, supporting Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.”
Nearly a million Michigan residents rely directly or indirectly on the value Direct Care Workers provide.
Amber Arellano, Executive Director, The Education Trust-Midwest:
“We are truly encouraged that Gov. Whitmer and state leaders are prioritizing public education at this critical moment. As state leaders work to address the immediate educational crisis and pandemic’s impact on students, we urge them also to prepare and plan for Michigan’s long-term educational recovery. National research suggests millions of children have fallen behind in their learning due to the pandemic’s disruptions to learning. Educators are working very hard to address these challenges yet much more will be needed to address the learning gaps being exacerbated by COVID-19.
“While all students have been affected by COVID-19, a growing and powerful research base from across the country makes clear that certain groups of students and their learning have been much more impacted, including English Learners, Black and Latino children, rural students, and low-income students. We continue to urge policymakers to prioritize these children in Michigan.
“Michigan’s next steps should include investments in solution-based strategies to address learning loss; prioritization of funding for vulnerable students; and the development of a strategically-sound, research-based plan to help students catch up and accelerate. Gov. Whitmer’s continued commitment to a weighted school funding formula is an important step toward educational equity.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Robert White, a parent advocate from southeast Michigan. “We have worked a very long time for the day when our residents with mental illness and developmental disabilities would be recognized at this level and are very excited about working with all our state’s leaders in the weeks and months ahead.”
Coalition members hope the Governor’s recommendation will be acted on in the coming weeks.
“As a coalition comprised of many deeply concerned members, we have been working toward action on this issue for a long while,” said Robert Stein, general counsel for the Michigan Assisted Living Association. “This is a solution that requires urgent action before Feb. 28, so our state’s most vulnerable residents—and the workers who give so much to protect them—can continue working together for good.”
Launch Michigan, a statewide K–12 partnership consisting of education, business, parent, philanthropic and civic leaders, issued the following statement:
In her 2021 State of the State address, Governor Gretchen Whitmer this evening shared her plans for helping all Michigan students receive the learning supports they need.
“Launch Michigan and its members are fully united behind approaches that offer our state’s students a fairer state funding formula,” said Launch Michigan president Adam Zemke. “We support the Governor’s plans to incorporate weighted funding into our state’s School Aid budget this year, so students that need higher levels of learning intervention aren’t left behind. This is an incredible innovation and one that is long overdue.
“We also are encouraged to learn of the Governor’s intention to ensure all students can go back to school safely. We are excited about the possibility of working together to ensure COVID-induced learning losses are addressed, especially during the coming summer and early fall.”
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, President of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address and goal of vaccinating 50,000 Michiganders a day against COVID-19, issued the following statement:
“The Governor’s continued focus on vaccinating Michigan residents against COVID-19 is critically important. Vaccinating as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, is not only vital to the public’s overall health and well-being, it is also necessary in returning our economy and education system back to where they need it to be.
“Michigan physicians strongly support the Governor’s goal and will continue their work on the frontlines of this pandemic to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine is administered to residents across our state.”
The Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes released the following statement:
“Governor Whitmer just delivered an historic bold action plan that will help end the COVID-19 pandemic, grow our economy, and get families and businesses back on their feet. Because of her leadership, countless Michigan lives have been saved over the past 10 months, and now she has a plan to get immediate relief to our families, fix our roads, and properly fund education. She has offered a common sense, bipartisan approach to moving Michigan forward efficiently and effectively. It is time for the MIGOP to set aside their love of petty political games and commit to working with Governor Whitmer to deliver on every priority she outlined tonight.”
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy issued a full press release response following the speech:
In the opening for her State of the State remarks, Governor Whitmer highlighted several bipartisan accomplishments, including two that were supported by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. While auto insurance reforms and Clean Slate Legislation ultimately limited government’s role, every new idea the governor proposed in her speech furthered government expansion.
In the address, Gov. Whitmer offered nine government expansions and zero limitations. The Mackinac Center has tallied the expansions and limitations in the State of the State addresses for the previous five governors.
Gov. Whitmer spent most of tonight’s address reflecting on the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, some of the governor’s solutions, including bringing back select incentive programs like Good Jobs for Michigan, won’t help public health or the economy.
“The government is throttling small businesses across the state,” said Michael LaFaive, senior director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center. “Asking them to pay more, especially right now, so that a few large corporations can pay less is regrettable. Good Jobs for Michigan and other taxpayer subsidies are expensive, unfair and ineffective.”
The following expansions were proposed in the address:
- Implementing prescription drug task force regulatory recommendations
- Permanently extending unemployment benefits
- Providing extra resources for some small businesses
- Passing the MI COVID Recovery Plan
- Funding academic recovery, school infrastructure, and support for students
- Permanently raise wages for home healthcare workers an extra $2 an hour
- Resurrecting Good Jobs for Michigan legislation
- Creating new ways for local governments to raise taxes for roads
- Extra funding for Michigan’s water infrastructure
You can view the tally of past expansions and limitations by gubernatorial administrations since 1969 here: State-of-the-State-Expansions-and-Limitations
