'We can work through hard problems': Whitmer strikes bipartisan tone in annual speech

Yahoo

27-02-2025

LANSING — While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used her State of the State speech Wednesday night to lay out some new policies she wants lawmakers to send her way, she bookended her remarks with calls for unity amid a dramatically transformed political landscape in Washington, D.C. and Michigan.
"I took an oath to serve the people of Michigan—and that means all of the people in Michigan. That's my commitment to you no matter who is in the White House or who's on the other side of the aisle in Lansing," Whitmer said. She described Michigan as a microcosm of the U.S., and said the state has the opportunity serve as a model for coming together to address shared challenges.
"Our people are not as divided as our politics. I really believe that," Whitmer said toward the beginning of her address.
Watch replay: Gov Gretchen Whitmer delivers State of the State
Her message comes as she tries to find common ground with President Donald Trump's administration to the consternation of some Democrats. While Whitmer is no stranger to working with Republican lawmakers who controlled both chambers of the Michigan Legislature during her first four years in office, this legislative session marks the first time during her tenure she's had to work with a GOP-controlled Michigan House and a Democratic-led Michigan Senate. Before becoming governor, Whitmer spent 14 years in the Michigan Legislature serving in the minority.
"That means this is my 21st State of the State — my God!" Whitmer said. Her voice sounded hoarse during the speech and Whitmer repeatedly cleared her throat, saying at one point she's recovering from a cold. She delivered her speech to a subdued chamber that saw few big applause lines compared to previous speeches. But Whitmer returned to a familiar refrain, emphasizing that she's willing to work with anyone, including Trump after she spent the last year campaigning against him.
Whitmer said Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico would damage Michigan's auto industry and applauded the pause on them. She also shared that she spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Saturday in Washington, D.C. about supporting a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County. She made no mention of the impact of federal layoffs and attempted federal funding freezes on Michigan orchestrated by Trump and his billionaire partner Elon Musk that could radically reshape the state's budget and public services.
Turning back home, she made repeated pleas for political compromise on policies ranging from road funding to restricting students' cellphone use in schools.
Whitmer celebrated legislation signed Friday changing Michigan's minimum wage and paid sick leave law to gradually raise — but not eliminate — the lower minimum wage for workers who receive customer tips and delay the implementation of new sick leave requirements for small businesses. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, told reporters Tuesday that the recent bipartisan work on the economic policies suggests Whitmer and lawmakers can work together to deliver a road funding solution and more.
Whitmer echoed Hall in her speech.
"These last few weeks showed us that we can work together to solve hard problems and deliver real solutions for Michigan," she said.
Whitmer put forward the policy vision Wednesday night she wants lawmakers to help her deliver. She reiterated her calls for investments in building new housing to reduce housing costs. She said Michigan should join the other states that have consumer protections for medical debt without providing many specifics like whether she wants lawmakers to fund a debt relief program. She also called for expanding affordable child care without offering many details.
However, Whitmer spoke extensively about how she wants to close a gender gap in education, promising an executive directive to increase men's enrollment in higher education and skills training programs.
"In Michigan—men and women—want to protect and provide for their families, to be financially successful, and to be good role models. And that's why no matter who you are, we want to help you learn more and earn more," Whitmer said.
In her first State of the State speech, Whitmer outlined her vision to increase the share of Michigan adults with a post-secondary credential to 60% by 2030 and announced the creation of Michigan Reconnect to provide a tuition-free path to obtaining an associate's degree or skill certificate. The share of adults with a post-secondary credential stood at 41% when Whitmer first took office and is just under 52% today, according to data from state departments.
Whitmer returned to another one of her marquee demands: Fixing the roads. After Hall put forward a road funding plan last year promising no tax increases, Whitmer unveiled her own earlier this month calling for both new revenue and cuts. Her roads plan would ensure every cent Michigan drivers pay at the pump goes to roads, secure additional revenue from large corporations and technology companies, create a new wholesale tax for marijuana and cut some government spending.
"Let's get back to the negotiating table in the coming days and weeks and find a long-term, bipartisan solution so we can fix more of those damn roads," Whitmer said.
The governor promised executive action on permitting fees and occupational licensing but said she needs lawmakers' help to do more to streamline permitting and simplify the licensing process in Michigan.
Whitmer also asked lawmakers to send legislation her way restricting students' phone use at school. While some districts have their own phone bans in place, there exists no statewide policy to limit students' phone use. Some states have already implemented policies tackling phone use in schools, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In her budget proposal last month, Whitmer called for a new tax on vaping and non-tobacco nicotine products beginning next year. Under the proposal, revenue generated from the tax would support smoking and cancer prevention, youth public health programs and the Medicaid Benefits Trust Fund.
"If we don't act smart on vapes, we risk our children's health and futures," Whitmer said Wednesday, highlighting her proposal.
Whitmer delivered her annual policy address late this year. Governors typically deliver the speech in January. She said the change in timing this year was meant to accommodate lawmakers traveling to Trump's inauguration last month. In January, she delivered a speech at the Detroit Auto Show calling for a new jobs fund to bring more big factories and engineering and tech centers to the state and unveiled an $83.5 billion budget proposal.
Whitmer at the White House: In Washington, D.C. Michigan's governor said she sought meeting with Trump
Wednesday gave her another opportunity to add to her wish list, but she laid out one big demand. At a moment when she said bullying seems in vogue, Whitmer called on Michigan residents to show kindness.
This story will be updated.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at [e-mail] or 313-296-5743. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State calls for unity