LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Whitmer discussed some ambitious plans for 2023 in her State of the State Address Wednesday. Experts and Democratic and Republican state leaders respond to her goals.
The speech included plans to roll back the state's Retirement Tax and expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, Pre-K for All—a program to give all 4-year-olds in Michigan a jump start on education— also abortion rights, public safety, and gun control. An ambitious repertoire for the Governor in her second term.
"I'm very hopeful that we can continue on this track of investing in ourselves," Democratic Rep. Christina Morse of District 40 said.
Despite Democrats holding the majority in the state House, Senate and Governor’s seat, MSU professor Matt Grossman says Gov. Whitmer will still need to work across the isle, as the Democrats only hold a slim majority in the legislature.
"This will really rely on getting all of those Democrats to go along with each of those proposals because they're a narrow majority in both of those chambers," Professor Grossman said. "It's a lot more likely than typical that the governor is going to be able to get these proposals passed, but we shouldn't have extreme expectations."
The slim majority gives some outlook for the Republicans.
“It sounds like she is that she's singing a different tune now,” says Representative Bryan Posthumus. “Maybe there will be the opportunity to work together on this as long as it's done correctly and done effectively.”
However, they say Whitmer's tax plans will take too long to implement and her ideas were too vague.
"People are having a really hard time paying all their bills," Republican Rep. Gina Johnsen of District 78 said. "We all want to turn it around and make it better. But to wait for a tax plan that would take place in two to three years is quite a delay."
A sense of cooperation echoes across party lines however, as all representatives say they want to improve the lives of Michiganders.
“This is a very celebratory moment,” says Senator Winnie Brinks. “Lots of ceremony, but working in the trenches every day, I know that there are Republicans who care about those things who are willing work with us.”
Any lingering questions Republicans have may be answered in the coming weeks, when Whitmer releases the 2024 budget proposal.
