Welcome to Michigan Public TV's coverage of the state of the state.

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Information at MPAC.net here is senior capitol correspondent Tim Scubick.

Thank you very much and welcome to our live coverage of the governor's state of the state.

Number six with two more to go on this evening where everybody is assembled in the Michigan house.

In a couple of minutes, we will walk through those big red doors at the back of the chambers and she will enter to deliver her speech on where she wants the state to go.

She will also take a little bit of time of saying where we've been.

And, of course, well, the major, major difference in tonight's speech is last year the Democrats were in full control of the Michigan House.

This time around, not so much.

They've got 54 votes on both sides.

Now, the Republicans like to say this is shared power.

But the governor, when we spoke to her the other day, said, quote, This is not shared power.

It's in the rules that the Democrats are still in control, even though they have 54 seats.

But it does mean that whatever she wants to get done this year, at least until about the springtime around April, she will need some Republicans to come along with all of her Democrats if she can hold all of them to get something done.

So it will be interesting.

It's a different dynamic.

They count noses in the House and Senate as we stand by and go to the lieutenant governor.

Now, the joint convention will return to order.

The president recognizes Chief Sergeant at arms, John Priebe.

Thank you, Mr. President, the governor of the great state of Michigan, the Honorable Gretchen Whitmer and the first family await entrance to the joint convention.

Well, the special committee, please escort the governor and her family to their seats and the rostrum.

And the door is open.

And enter the governor of the state of Michigan with her family, with the legislative escorts, the governor there with Dr. Mark Mallory, the Democrats have been advised to wear Honolulu blue on the floor tonight.

So we'll do a head count as to how many of fulfill that.

And we also have a pool the over under on how many times the lions will be mentioned tonight and the U of M Wolverines.

You know, the governor was originally going to be a sports broadcaster.

So maybe some of those instincts will come through in his speech.

And we're also trying to figure out, is it a plus or minus to have all this attention in Michigan on the sports stuff?

Well, this is the governor's major speech of the year.

Governors absolutely love state of the states because, one, they get to control all of the content for an hour.

And of course, after that, everything is diced and sliced through the news media.

Secondly, it's a live audience where she'll get lots of applause from the left side of the screen as you look there, not so much on the right screen because that's where the Republicans are.

And basically this is her opportunity to set the agenda to say, here's where we ought to go.

She will obviously call for bipartisan cooperation because she needs it, particularly in the House.

And of course, the speech is against the backdrop of the governor's rising profile on the national level as she hugs Winnie Brinks The Senate Democratic leader does a high five with the LG and a hug for the House speaker.

She says she much more enjoys the speech with two Democrats behind her rather than two Republicans for obvious reasons.

Members of the joint convention, the governor of the great state of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Michigan, the home of the best football in the country.

Am I right?

From our national championship, Wolverines to our Detroit Lions, I'm excited to be here tonight between two leaders who have gotten a lot done over the past year.

My good friend, Speaker Joe Tate, and my good friend.

Winnie Brinks.

Senate majority leader.

And I want to acknowledge minority leaders.

Matt Hall and Aric Nesbitt, thank you for your leadership and a happy early birthday to you, Senator Nesbitt.

Tomorrow, I know.

All right.

We together delivered a balanced budget focused on the kitchen table issues in 2023, and I know we're going to do that again this year in 2024.

And I want to acknowledge so many incredible partners that I have in governance.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, our attorney General, Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

And I always want to make a point of acknowledging two incredible public servants who lead groups of public servants who show up on the front line in the most dire times.

Please join me in thanking Major General Paul Rogers and Colonel James Grady from the State.

Police and National Guard.

To our state employees, my Cabinet and my executive office team.

Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Michigan.

All right.

Let's get this show on the road.

Like some of you, I am a product of the eighties.

I love big hair and bold leather jackets, classic movies, and, of course, classic rock and all.

Great albums from the eighties have some things in common.

Chart topping hits that everyone loves.

Deep cuts for the fans and a few experimental tracks at their best.

These are timeless records whose impact transcends a single year or artist At our best.

That's what we aspire to do to get things done that outlast us, make policy for future generations.

Over the past year, our record, like any great album, had something in it for everyone, and all of the tracks or policies were bound by a common theme making a real difference in people's lives.

We composed this record thanks to the people in this room and every Michigander at home.

Groups only succeed when all its members are thriving.

And lately, Michigan's been playing in harmony.

So let's go through the setlist.

A lot of people had faith.

We would roll back the retirement tax on our seniors.

We got it done to save half a million senior households, an average of $1,000 a year.

We rolled back this tax, and I want to thank Representative Angela Witwer for her leadership.

We quintupled the Working families tax credit, so people working 9 to 5 or second or third shift get hundreds more dollars back in their pockets.

Let's acknowledge Senator Kristen McDonald- Rivet for getting it done.

This year, the Senate and the House Democratic legislative majorities delivered $1,000,000,000 in tax relief.

This year, seniors will keep more of what they earn and hundreds of thousands of working families will get refund checks, putting money back in their pockets to help with groceries or gas or home repairs.

We all know that girls just want to have fun and pay down debt so we did.

Since I took office, we have paid down $18 billion of state debt.

We brought our rainy day fund to an all time high of nearly $2 billion.

We've even created new rainy day fund for our schools and put nearly $500 million into it.

We are making great strides and we won't back down in our fight to protect reproductive freedom.

Michiganders passed Prop three to protect abortion rights and repealed our extreme 1931 abortion ban.

Thanks to the hard work of so many in this room, including Representative Pohutsky and Senator Geiss, and for every sweet child of ours in Michigan, we have made school lunch and breakfasts free of charge for every Michigan child.

All 1.4 million Michigan public school students get two meals a day so they can focus on learning and so their parents can save 850 bucks a year on groceries per student.

I want to thank Senator Darrin Camilleri and Representative Regina Weiss, who led this effort when I introduced my next budget.

We're going to keep feeding students and lowering grocery bills for families.

We also put cost saving pieces of the Affordable Care Act into state law.

You might be wondering what's cost got to do, got to do with it.

Now young people can stay on their parents insurance until they turn 26, and you can't be charged more for having a preexisting condition.

because no one should be running up that bill to get better when they're sick.

Okay.

Get a little more coffee before the next State of the State.

But some folks in Washington are trying to repeal the ACA and strip health care away for kids and seniors and working families.

We got your back like a rock here in Michigan.

We will protect your care no matter what.

I want to thank Representative Matt Koleszar and Senator Kevin Hertel for their work on this issue.

While other states restrict your freedom to be who you are and love who you love.

We heed the words of Miss Diana Ross and say we're coming out to protect equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

Thank you, Senator Moss, and, of course, Representative Hoskins, for your work on this.

We also ended natural hair discrimination by passing the Crown Act.

Thank you, Senator Anthony.

And finally, to protect every breath you take and our Great Lakes, we enacted historic clean energy package.

Together, we will reach 100% clean energy by 24.

I'm sorry, 2040.

Lower the cost of household utilities by an average of 145 bucks a year and create thousands of good paying jobs backed by the strongest labor standards in the country.

We will make more energy here with American workers.

So I want to thank Senators Singh, Geiss, Shink and Representatives Aiyash, Puri and Coffia for making Michigan a national leader on climate action.

So we have a heck of a record and we are starting 2024 fired up.

My fellow Michiganders, the State of our state is ready to rock.

We got into the groove last year, but great bands do not rest on their laurels.

They make the next record better than the last one.

There's more to do and nothing is going to stop us now.

Let's talk about the challenges Michiganders face today.

Top of mind is costs.

It is hard to buy a house, afford a car, or save for retirement while keeping up with the bills.

People put things off to make ends meet, replacing old tires.

Fixing busted gutters.

Buying your child a warmer coat.

No matter who you are or where you come from, if you work hard, you should be able to provide for your family and have a fair shot at a better future.

We should have the freedom to live the way that you want.

That is the American dream and you should be able to chase that in Michigan.

At our best that's what we are a home for opportunity, for people seeking a good life and a good cost of living.

Tonight, that's what I'm going to focus on, how we keep lowering costs, how we improve education to set up our children for success.

Make more stuff right here in Michigan and compete with the world.

So first costs.

No one likes paying six bucks for a box of cereal or more for an oil change than they did last year.

But I want to be upfront with you.

I cannot solve global inflation alone.

No one person can.

Not even a president.

If you meet someone who says they have a secret plan to fix inflation run the other way.

But what we can do is make life more affordable by lowering costs on the biggest items in your monthly budget.

When your paycheck hits your bank account.

You know your largest and most important expenses are going to be housing and child care, transportation, education, utilities and food.

From axing the retirement tax and free school meals to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and reconnect which lower the cost of college by thousands to programs like Tri-Share that slash the cost of child care by 66%.

We are taking action.

Things are headed in the right direction.

Inflation is slowing down.

Unemployment remains low and take home pay is up.

It is a great time to find a good paying job.

With unions fighting successfully for better pay and benefits.

President Biden's policies are bringing jobs and supply chains home to Michigan from around the world.

Still, yes.

Still, Michiganders need more breathing room.

This year, we will continue our work to lower costs on the biggest items in your budget.

So let's jump in.

A few weeks ago, I rolled out the Michigan vehicle rebate, a plan to lower the cost of buying a new car with a $1,000 rebate off any car and 2000 for electric vehicles.

If it was assembled by a union, you get an extra 500 bucks.

So that's up to $2500 off the MI Vehicle rebate would be offered at the point of sale.

So you actually save money as you walk out of the dealership.

Michigan's auto industry has been the backbone of our economy for a century, powered by the men and women of the UAW who negotiated and ratified a record contract last year.

We want our auto workers and our auto industry to thrive right here in Michigan.

And I know that unites us.

So let's help them both do what they do best.

Make the world's best cars and trucks.

With the MI vehicle rebate, we can lower costs and support the ongoing transition to an all electric union made future.

Next housing usually the largest expense in anyone's budget.

Right now too many families spend more than half their income on their rent or mortgage.

Our housing stock is old.

Nearly half of all units in Michigan were built before 1970.

Young people cite housing affordability as one of their top concerns.

These are state wide challenges in Traverse City.

School districts need housing for teachers who have nowhere else to live on the West Side and in the U.P..

There just aren't enough homes for growing families.

And I know Detroiters see higher rates when they re-sign.

In other words, the rent is too damn high and we don't have enough damn housing.

So our response is simple Build, baby, build.

Let's go.

Our target is clear.

In Michigan's first ever statewide housing plan that I commissioned last year, we set a goal of 75,000 new or refurbished units in five years, and we are headed in the right direction.

In the five years since I took office, we've invested double what we did the previous eight years to build or rehabilitate 34,000 housing units, supporting 20,000 good paying construction jobs in the process.

Our local partners are getting it done too.

From November 2022 to November 2023, our four largest counties Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent, permitted over 8000 units.

In 2024.

Let's keep going.

2024.

Let's build more of every kind of housing, single family homes, apartments, mixed use buildings.

In 2024, we will make the largest investment to build housing in Michigan history.

Let's get it done.

We will invest almost $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate nearly 10,000 homes.

That's ten times what we put into housing just ten years ago.

Getting this done will support thousands of good paying middle class jobs and the skilled trades from pipefitters and carpenters to bricklayers and roofers.

Let's get it done.

Housing is a serious challenge, so we're making this serious investment.

It's about so much more than just a roof over your head.

Housing builds generational wealth.

It forms the foundation for success in school and work in life.

Let's work together to build more housing so every Michigander has an affordable place to call home.

Finally, I'm calling for a new caregiver tax credit that will put money in the pockets of Michiganders who care for an aging or sick relative.

I know how tiring caregiving can be, especially when you're juggling a career and kids of your own.

When I was sandwiched between my newborn daughter and my mom, who was dying from brain cancer, I was pushed to my limit despite having resources and help.

I know a lot of people are concerned about how much it'll take or is taking to care for aging parents financially and emotionally.

Maybe you're concerned about how your kids will take care of you while living their own lives.

The new Caring for my Family Tax Credit could save thousands of Michigan families up to $5,000 on their taxes.

By allowing people to write off caregiving expenses, including counseling or transportation, nursing or respite services, we can save them money.

We can help more seniors age in place at home in dignity instead of a costlier, long term option.

We can support parents of children with long term care needs by saving them money.

We know the burden of caregiving falls disproportionately on women, and especially women of color.

While the caregiving work they do is often invisible, it is invaluable.

According to the AARP.

Family members provide about $522 billion in uncompensated care every year.

Let's support them by giving them a tax break so that they can take care of their loved ones.

Now let's talk about education.

This is a priority all parents share.

Whether you're in a small town or a big city, a Republican, Democrat or independent, getting ahead or just getting by, you want your child to succeed.

I'm proud of the record.

Bipartisan investments we've made since I took office.

Republicans and Democrats came together to raise per pupil funding by 22% in the last five years.

That's hundreds more for every child invested directly into your local school district to lower class sizes and upgrade shop classrooms or computer labs.

We also invested in campus safety and mental health and made breakfast and lunch free.

When kids are unsafe or struggling or starving, they can't reach their full potential.

Every parent knows that the person standing in the front of the classroom matters.

In some states, educators are being undermined, micromanaged and even criminalized just for doing their jobs.

In Florida, teachers are disrespected and book bans are rampant.

Heck, just two weeks ago, a district banned the dictionary.

The dictionary.

In Texas, nearly one in three teachers aren't even certified.

That's not how you improve education.

In Michigan, we're forging a different path.

We're sending a message loud and clear.

We support our teachers.

We walk the walk.

We fund scholarships for future educators, pay student teachers and help full time teachers with their student loans so they stay in Michigan.

We accept out-of-state certificates, so if you have experience, you can enter the classroom without jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

As a result, enrollment rates in Michigan's teacher prep programs are beating other states.

So a message to America's teachers If you want to teach, we want you here.

In Michigan, we let teachers do what they do best.

Teach.

We know education in Michigan needs more support and more work, and we want student outcomes to exceed our expectations.

We need to better prepare students for success after they graduate, whether they go right into the workforce or enter a community college, trade school or a four year university.

There is no correct path, but every person deserves a path.

It depends on the person, what theirs is.

What we can do is get everyone ready.

A big part of that is starting education earlier and continuing later.

Four year olds who go to pre-K arrive at kindergarten, better prepared to learn.

They're more likely to graduate, go to college and earn more over their lifetime.

And we know higher education or skills training leads to higher incomes.

If you get an associate's degree.

You can earn $23,000 more a year.

The best paying jobs today and in our future economy require some education after high school.

So we must support our kids from pre-K through post-secondary to prosperity.

Last year, I proposed pre-K for all.

By the end of 2026, saving families about $10,000 a year and giving every child a solid academic foundation.

Together, we're changing our definition of education to include pre-K. And last year we expanded pre-K to 5600 more students.

And you know what?

This year, we're going to go a heck of a lot further in our next budget.

Let's deliver pre-K for every single four year old in Michigan.

Two years ahead of schedule.

When we get this done, no matter who you are or where you come from or how much you make your child can enroll in pre-K and be set up for success.

So let this be a message to parents in other states.

Come to Michigan.

We got your back every step of the way and we'll save you ten grand on your children's education.

We need to be a state of lifelong learners, and we know that education does not end after high school graduation.

And that's why we've lowered the cost of college with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, saving thousands.

We made community college and job training for medical techs and electricians tuition free for anyone.

21 and older with the Michigan reconnect.

And today, I propose we go further in our next budget.

Let's make the first two years of community college in Michigan tuition free forever free High school graduation as Michiganders pursue an associate's degree or skills certificate at a community college, they can save an average of $4,000 on tuition.

This is a transformational opportunity for graduating seniors and will help us achieve our 60 by 30 goal.

Having 60% of our adult population with post-secondary skills training or a degree by 2030.

We are broadening our vision of education beyond K through 12.

Every single Michigander should be able to count on a free public education from pre-K through community college.

That's the Michigan Guarantee.

Let's get it done.

Finally, let's talk about making it in Michigan.

Over the last few years, we have seen a manufacturing renaissance driven by President Biden's investments in American workers and industry.

It is happening nationwide with 800,000 manufacturing jobs added since 2021.

Companies are investing in America and especially in Michigan, in a big way.

We're competing and winning the future of the auto industry, making cars and semiconductors and batteries here instead of China.

You may have heard about expansions by the Big Three in Detroit, Lansing and Flint, but there are so many businesses from other states and nations expanding or moving to Michigan, Calumet Electronics, in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Now hydrogen Gigafactory in Plymouth Charter Township Scout Motors R&D hub in Novi, Fortescue's battery plant in Detroit Hydro Aluminum recycling facility in Cassopolis, Michigan.

And SK Siltron Semiconductor wafer plant in Bay City, we are showing the world that we make a lot more than just cars in the decades ahead.

We will dominate manufacturing of batteries and chips and clean energy, too.

To keep winning, we must upgrade our economic development tool kit.

We can and must outcompete our neighbors.

Tonight, I want to talk about some new tools.

We know Michigan is home to a lot of research and development or R&D, thanks to our leading universities and businesses.

Unfortunately, we are one of just a handful of states without a tax credit to incentivize R&D.

Every other Midwestern state has one.

An R&D tax credit will unleash innovation while lowering costs for businesses.

Let's get it done.

So our current toolkit limits our ability to attract small and second stage businesses.

So let's start the Higher Michigan Fund to lower overall payroll taxes for these firms.

The value here is simple.

The more you hire in Michigan, the more you should save in Michigan.

We had a similar bipartisan program years ago that worked well.

Let's bring it back because, well, everyone loves a throwback, right?

We also thank you.

We also need to uplift regions that have too often been left out or left behind.

Renaissance zones are strategically selected areas that will lower taxes for businesses and entrepreneurs so we can drive investment and create local jobs.

We already have several of these statewide, but there are strict categories that define them and eligible projects within them are so tightly defined.

Let's simplify these into a single flexible category to incentivize growth in Michigan.

And finally, let's establish an innovation fund to invest in high growth startups that will create the future right here in Michigan.

Right now, we have no state level mechanism to attract and retain promising young companies.

With the new Innovation Fund.

We can launch hundreds of new Michigan based startups and create thousands of jobs.

Together, we're going to build the infrastructure for innovation so founders can start and build their companies right here in Michigan.

As we win all these projects, our infrastructure has got to keep up the growing Michigan together.

Council identified infrastructure as one of the keys to growing our population.

That's why we are fixing the damn roads and bridges and pipes and everything in between.

Since I took office, we have 20,000 lane miles of road and 1400 bridges supporting 118,000 good paying jobs.

I know you saw it last year.

Our state flower, the orange barrel, was in full bloom.

And the hardworking men and women who fix our roads were out in force getting the job done.

Four years ago, I started this rostrum and rolled out the rebuilding Michigan Plan a three and a half billion dollar investment to fix our roads while supporting over 45,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime and focused vital economic corridors, including 96 and 275 in metro Detroit, the 475-69 interchange in Flint, 94 in Jackson, 196 between Holland and Saugatuck, and 496 just a few blocks from here.

We made progress on them all.

Tonight, I'm calling on the Michigan Department of Transportation to authorize the final $700 million of the Rebuilding Michigan plan.

The final round of projects includes 94 along Metro Airport in Detroit, 696 from Southfield through Warren and a bridge in Erie Township.

The rebuilding Michigan plan is making commutes safer, saving drivers time and money, and allowing businesses to ship products more easily across Michigan.

Let's keep fixing those damn roads.

Every Michigander deserves a classic Michigan story.

You work hard, follow your dreams, and build a great life.

When you get knocked down, you get up again.

You keep fighting.

That's what makes us special.

Heck, just look at our lions once a...yeah Once a punch line are now a powerhouse they've dominated by centering the grit that defines every Michigander.

On the way up, they naysayers and cynics into Dreamers.

And I don't know if you recall, but our Wolverines are national champions, right Oh I'm looking at my fellow Spartans.

I know it's hard sometimes, but both these incredible teams, both these incredible teams are showing the country what Michigan is all about.

That story, our story can be seen in our people stories.

Tonight, I want to tell you one about a woman named Elaine.

Elaine is here with us today.

Elaine, if you wouldn't mind standing, she's right there.

Elaine was born in Saginaw in the wake of World War Two.

She was one of seven kids and grew up poor.

After graduating from Saginaw High School, she worked odd jobs and got married and moved to Chicago.

After her divorce, she came home to Michigan with her sons.

She struggled as a single mom.

One day over dinner in the parking lot of a fast food joint, she made her sons a promise.

One day, she said they would be able to eat at the Olive Garden.

Across the street, a sit down restaurant with metal forks and waiters who refill your glass without you even asking.

Elaine worked hard using food stamps to put groceries in the fridge and housing assistance to keep a roof over her son's head.

She was a secretary for years, but wanted to chase her dream and get a job that gave her a sense of purpose.

She never thought she could do it.

Well, Elaine, I'm glad you proved yourself wrong.

She went back to Wayne State with a Pell Grant and earned two degrees.

After graduating with her master's in social work at 45, she had a successful career in Saginaw.

In retirement, she volunteers at local shelters and even wrote a book.

My grandchildren make me laugh, and I am the proud owner of a signed copy.

What Elaine is most proud of, however is who her sons have become.

She calls them fine young men who care for themselves and their families.

Mark and Cody are with her today.

One works at the same clinic Elaine did and the other heads back to college soon, following in her footsteps.

Elaine and my mom were born about six years apart.

They both worked hard and faced adversity and persevered.

They're both strong, proud women from Michigan, and that's a badge of honor.

Elaine Story is Michigan's story.

She had simple dreams for her kids.

She wanted them to get a great education and eat at a restaurant occasionally.

She wanted them to have hope and be good people.

Tonight's proposals that we are focused on are so that we can make more stories like Elaine's possible here in Michigan.

We will build a michigan where if you get knocked down, get the support you need to get back up.

Lowering costs on the biggest items in your budget.

Improving education so your kids can thrive and ensuring you can make it no matter who you are or what you've been through.

We will deliver real change for people right now and for Michiganders for generations to come.

That's what our work is about, getting things done for people we've never met.

People like Elaine, a mom who can afford a nicer place to live, and a new housing that we are building.

Someone who can get their associate's degree tuition free with the Michigan reconnect.

Making more time to study in the mornings because our parents don't have to pack a lunch for their kids.

Being able to drive them to school on safe roads where they know that they will be taught by a skilled educator and receive a public education from pre-K through community college.

We are a state of humble.

That's, hey go at it.

We are a state of humble, hardworking people with big dreams for our children this year.

Let's keep rocking so everyone can have their own classic Michigan story.

I thank you all for your time tonight.

I thank you for the hard work that you do every single day.

I encourage you to drive safe root for the lions and have a good night.

Lets Go waving a grit flag in the air.

Governor Whitmer declares victory and goes home.

Quite a speech, quite a speech from this governor tonight.

There was nothing negative in it that you could find, even if you went over with a fine tooth comb.

You may have noticed it on the right side of the aisle.

The Republicans did a lot of sitting on their hands While the Ds spent most of the night standing up, applauding.

My count was seven tax cuts and still counting.

And so we'll have a chance to look at those as the governor acknowledges.

APPLAUSE.

Let's come back in the studio and introduce our panel that is going to be doing this brilliant analysis.

How's that for a hype?

We had Chuck Stokes with us.

We have Kyle Melinn, we have Amy Lange, we have Bill Ballenger.

We'll get back to you folks in just a couple of minutes, by the way.

We're going to do an overtime segment on the Internet.

So after we sign off and say adios, we'll say hello.

If you go to wkar.org.

But right now we go to the Republicans.

We have 4 minutes to say what they want to say about this state of the state evening.

Let's roll that tape.

Hi, I'm Aric Nesbitt, Republican leader in your state Senate.

Growing up on a six generation family farm near Kalamazoo, I learned the value of hard work as a graduate of the same public school as my father and grandfather.

I learned the value of a good education and being involved in the family farming business.

I learned how decisions made in Lansing or far off Washington can affect a community, a small business and a family.

Tonight, Governor Whitmer painted a picture of the state of the state that probably left you scratching your head, because I talk to friends and neighbors who work for a living.

The governor's picture was one at odds with the reality most Michigan families are facing.

She took a victory lap and patted herself on the back.

While many of our family members, our friends and our neighbors continue to struggle.

And this was a speech of someone who has spent way too much time in the Lansing bubble.

Someone who doesn't worry about the price of groceries or heating their home in the winter, or whether her kids can catch up in school.

The governor once said in a speech, quote, Truth matters.

Facts matter, and they do.

And here's the reality of where we as a state stand.

Five years into the Whitmer administration and three years in the Biden administration, Michigan fourth graders rank 43rd in Reading.

Only in 10/4 graders in our state are proficient in math.

Our high school graduation rate is 43rd nationally, and our average SAT scores are the lowest on record.

What about the economy?

The governor insists the Biden-nomics is working.

Is that what you're experiencing?

Is the numbers tell a different story?

Our unemployment rate is 40th in the nation.

Our median household income is 37th.

And for most families, if they've seen any increase in pay, it's been wiped out by inflation.

And of course, our population growth or lack thereof, reflects the reality of our situation as opposed to the rosy picture the governor tried to paint for you tonight, Michigan ranks 46th the nation for population growth.

Thousands of our friends and family members and neighbors continue to seek better jobs, better schools, better opportunities, unfortunately, elsewhere.

And I'm sad to say this is the real state of our state.

But it doesn't have to be.

Democrats in Lansing squandered a record budget surplus on things like swimming pools and pickleball courts.

While many Michiganders struggled to pay for groceries.

Republicans believe you know how to spend your money better than the government does, and we'll keep fighting to let you keep more of it.

Democrats in Lansing fought to raise taxes on Michigan businesses and send your tax dollars to some of the most profitable overseas corporations.

Republicans believe we must prioritize home grown companies and give them the tools they need to thrive.

Democrats in Lansing passed a California style Green New Deal scheme that will make your energy more expensive and less reliable.

Republicans believe we must invest in energy sources that ensure your lights, heat and car turn on regardless of whether the wind is blowing or how cold it is in a michigan winter.

And when Democrats in Lansing didn't like Michigan's appallingly low reading scores, their solution was to do away with reading standards.

Republicans believe we must raise the bar instead of lowering.

We refuse to accept Michigan being a bottom ten state for educational outcomes, and we'll give students, teachers and parents the support they need to get us into the top ten.

The picture the governor painted tonight of our state simply isn't the reality.

Most Michiganders are living every day under her policies and those of Joe Biden.

You deserve better.

Republicans have a vision that puts your community, your school and your family first, ahead of bigger state government, special interests or ambitions for higher office.

And our commitment to you is that we'll fight every day to get it done.

God bless you and God bless the great state of Michigan.

We are back now in Studio C with our analysis.

Let's begin with Mr. Stokes.

Traditionally, as you guys all know, give me a headline on this speech tonight.

Whitmer throws and runs another ambitious agenda for Michigan.

I'd say Whitmer resurrects past hits, along with revamped proposals.

I would say come to Michigan.

Oh, all right.

That's a headline, guys.

Okay.

Did you hear that?

That was an actual headline.

There we go.

Whitmer doubles down on Rosy Optimism.

Yeah.

Compared to what Mr. Nesbitt was saying that talk about two different views of reality, right?

Absolutely.

Yes.

He painted a picture that was really quite negative.

And I'm certainly sure that there's some truth to, you know, the struggles that Michiganders are facing in terms of inflation.

But I also think that the governor did try to address some of those.

And in my headline, as far as come to Michigan, this seemed to me to be not only an effort to tell Michiganders just what she hopes to do, but to encourage people to come here.

If you're a teacher, come here.

We want you to be able to teach.

We're not banning books or micromanaging you.

We want pre-K for four year olds.

If you're a family, come here.

If you come here, you're going to possibly get two years of community college free.

If you're a business.

R&D incentives.

If you're a business, an innovation fund.

So I think this was a message not only for Michiganders, but for people across the country to come here to this state thing.

Missing from this speech was what she did last year.

Remember, she looked in the camera and said, Ohio, all those states come on down.

Chuck, what did you make of all this?

You Know, I was struck by how confident she delivered her speech compared to a few years back when she was doing the state of the state.

This is a governor who could have emblazoned across her chest.

I am in my second term.

I'm feeling real good about what we've done.

I'm ambitious about the next year, but the devil's going to be in the detail and it's going to be a little tougher this time around because of the split in the vote I thought that what we saw here was a lot of setting the groundwork for 2024 and and keeping her popularity numbers up.

She did not talk about any divisive issues whatsoever.

She made the Republicans, I think, look foolish by sitting down so many times.

I mean, how can you sit down for the lions for crying out loud?

They couldn't even get she could even get them up for that.

And the Wolverines.

Come on.

I think they stood for Elaine.

At least.

What they stood.

They stood for the for the service men and women.

They did that.

And they stood up when she came in, and.

But that's about it.

So she kept on a very positive message with very doable proposals.

She didn't roll out divisive issues like line five or even paid family leave, even proposals she's talked about before.

She's on prescription rollbacks.

She didn't even talk about that because that would that would rankle the business community.

She avoided all that, instead reached her hand out to the business community as if she's trying to avoid any conflicts whatsoever.

Bill, as I said at the top of the program, governors, all of them love the state of the state because they control the entire content.

It's my world and I'm going to play with it.

She took it and.

Ran with it.

Absolutely.

I agree with everything Kyle said.

She tried to avoid anything that was marginally controversial.

I actually think Senate Democratic Majority floor Leader Sam Singh stole a march on the governor today by saying, I'm going to hold hearings on Freedom of Information Act.

I mean, the governor herself, Whitmer back in 2019, her first state as a state, said I want financial disclosure, Sunshine in let's, you know, have campaign finance reform.

Nothing about that.

All right.

Let's take a break here.

Go to wkar.org for more of this tantalizing and interesting discussion we're going to have on the rest of the speech.

I was just thinking back when we did one of the first with Bill Milliken.

State of the states.

It was 11:00 in the morning.

Did you all know that?

Are you kidding?

That was the tradition, believe it or not.

At 11:00 in the morning, nobody saw the speech except the 148 lawmakers and yours truly and a couple of, you know, slackers.

And then when Jim Blanchard came in on public TV, went to the House speaker who was a Democrat and said, why don't we move this thing to 7:00?

And Bobby Crim said, you know what?

We got a Democratic governor.

Let's do it.

So from Blanchard on, that we moved it into the evening.

a bit of history.

You'll be quizzed on this afterwards.

So, Kyle, I want to know what is the state of The state is ready to rock.

What does that mean?

I think she's just trying to motivate people and using some folksy references in leading up to this.

She tried to channel Taylor Swift, who's been redoing all of her prior works, you know, 1989.

Taylor's version is like the new thing right now.

And this was all of Whitmer's hits.

Gretchen's version.

And and that's how she marketed.

And so she was using kind of a folksy theme through this, using pop references.

I counted 12 references to old songs.

Hey, you know what?

She's going to go through and mention all the things that they did last year that we've all heard of before.

Why not make it fun?

I thought it was pretty cool.

And it plays well to the national audience when you think of Michigan, especially Detroit.

Were the first two things that you think of automobiles and Motown still the branding that we have.

Yeah, but wait a second.

She was a child, she said of the eighties.

Motown was dead by then.

Well it started to make a comeback.

I'm sure her parents were playing them at home and she was, I'm sure, quite familiar with that scene.

Im not saying she doesn't know who Marvin Gaye is Stevie Wonder is, but I thought it was interesting believe.

Seventies and she grew up in the eighties and that was the references that she gave.

Excuse me, its the governor calling.

I'll get back to that later.

Tax cuts, cars, caretakers, free pre-K, the first two years of Pre-K. What's the price tag on this stuff?

Anybody?

Oh, well, I dont think we heard that.

We did not hear and you won't hear it until February when she walks into the chamber and gives her budget recommendations.

And that's going to be the real proof of what her true priorities are and what she really wants to get through that legislature.

But as I said earlier, she's going to have a tougher road.

I mean, you could just see the reaction from the audience if you can't stand on the Lions and the Wolverines.

And we support teachers, you know that opposition party is going to give her a tougher time this time around.

How, Bill, how can you how can you oppose free K-through-12 starting for four year olds?

You really can't in a public forum like this.

So the Republicans look, it didn't look good sitting on their hands for all these applause lines.

I agree with that.

But this is going to be forgotten by the public.

They're not even going to recognize this really happen.

They're not going to see the significant summit that we do.

And so let's just see what happens in the next three months when the Republicans are going to be in this gridlock, 54-54 in the House.

Let's see what happens in terms of bipartisan cooperation.

Well, I think Brill just brings up the most salient point here, is that she isn't going to get much of anything done.

The House hasn't been able to figure out how to operate right now with a 54-54 split.

she ignored.

She did ignore that.

She didn't acknowledge that there is split leadership at this time, so to speak, split governance in the House right now.

I wouldn't say split leadership, but certainly split governance right now, as you could tell when they panned to Matt Hall, the Republican leader, and he looked like somebody just, you know, poisoned his food or something like that and is you know, he didn't look very good, but he's not going to get even done.

So why not put out things that would seem to get broad support, like, you know, getting a rebate for buying a brand new car and higher education community college, free community college.

Put it out there.

The Republicans can go on and say, yeah, we killed all these good ideas and be on record for that.

And then by the time May comes around, they have the full, full slate of lawmakers.

56 just in time for the budget.

Pass a budget.

Go on summer break, come back from summer break, do a couple of odds and ends before October when they when they adjourn to go campaign and then it's the election and then maybe they get to some of this in lame duck.

You know, it's almost like she's looking past mid April when the Democrats will again have control of the House and saying anything in the next three months, I'm not even going to acknowledge it is all going to be from that point forward.

But the things that are most ambitious that she's talking about are going to require some tough votes from Democrats in the House, and that could play a part in who wins, control the House in November.

But Amy, can't she hope that there are some swing district Republicans who weren't willing to drink the Kool-Aid tonight?

Well, when push comes to shove and mom and dad back home say, you know what I mean, I'd vote for you.

Will he get will the governor get their attention then?

I mean, it certainly could happen.

You look at these issues as as my colleagues here, I'll talk to that.

I mean, they are things that really, you know, broad support, you know, from the public.

I mean, free education, when we look at caregivers, my gosh, who isn't sandwiched between her person.

They know that needs help?

Absolutely.

Who who is not fully aware of just how much it costs to put someone in a home and to be worried at all times about whether or not they're getting the care that they need, who isn't trying to figure out how are we going to care for this loved one?

How can we keep them home?

But I'm going to need to keep my job as well.

I mean, these are real issues.

And so I think to your point about why not go ahead and talk about some of these things that are, you know, really things that we're all confronting and then, you know, see what happens.

And if you can't support it, then it looks like you're the bad guy, right?

I mean, because how can you say no to something like this?

I think if you look at she can farm, the governor's knows how to get votes.

Okay.

She she traded votes in her career.

Yes or no.

All right.

She only needs a handful of Republicans to drink her Kool-Aid.

They get this stuff through.

You're not buying this, Mr. Melinn.

I'm a little optimistic than you.

Know you are.

But the Republicans in the House in particular have done a real good job at holding together and not giving her one vote.

So far this year, they have not given her When push comes to shove.

And we're not in the shoving mood yet.

They're not even voting for their own members bills.

Right now.

They're not even doing that.

If they're not voting for their own bills, they're not going to vote for hers.

But I agree with Bill that she is looking past this 54 to 54 because it is such a slippery slope right now.

And it's so delicate that she's figuring, okay, we've got to districts here, special elections.

They lean Democratic.

I'm betting that I'm going to get those.

And we also have redistricting.

That is a grand mess right now and no one knows how that's going to shake out.

So we don't really know what the vote will be.

Yes, but all right.

Let's do let's do some what do they normally leave to get back on the campaign trail, June or July, June.

Early July for their summer break?

Let's do the math.

The two seats don't come back until April.

Okay.

So April to May, May to June.

And they're out of town.

Would you rather have two months to work on something or start tomorrow working on this stuff right now?

Well, you'd rather it start tomorrow, but.

She's not going to.

Go anywhere, Tim.

She's got to start somewhere.

Oh, goodness gracious.

Kyle is right, no she's not going to get any cooperation from the Republicans.

They're going to stonewall her.

Read my lips capital W wrong.

I'm going Well find out Tim.

Also released this tape.

Look at there's four or five Rs over there that she can pick off it.

The history hasn't shown that.

She hasn't been able to.

She got Mike Mueller on one vote at the very beginning of session last year, and that was about it.

Otherwise, Hall has done a good job of keeping them together and realizing telling them we have negotiating power here if we want to get anything done, something that we want to get done, we have to hold together.

Because if we don't, if we start getting picked off here, we lose over.

We lose all of our leverage.

And I could hear the Democratic commercials now, you thought the Congress was bad and not getting stuff done.

You know what I'm saying?

Maybe that resonates, but I think the public itself is so polarized right now, I don't know if that message, which probably worked, you know, in past decades and in past election cycles.

I don't think it works now.

All right, Amy, you and Chuck are closer to the auto industry down there than we are up here in the ivory tower.

What did you make of this break?

up to 2500 bucks to buy a new car?

Well, I mean, you know, the price of cars has been so high, you know, So I think that obviously any break you can get.

Yeah, that's great, right?

I mean, and there's certainly an acknowledgment to EVs Right.

To this sort of future of the automobile.

Even though she said she didn't say it was Biden's policy, but she's all in on all electric that agenda thing.

But absolutely.

I mean, and we know how the industry is sort of struggling with this.

And really, I think the public's having a little bit of trouble, you know, being fully supportive of this, too, for a number of reasons.

But but certainly she brought that to the forefront.

She also gave a nod to the unions.

If this is a union built car, there's an even bigger discount.

So, I mean, all those things are positive.

It's just a matter of with inflation, with how much everything is costing right now, can you even afford to buy a new car, even with a discount.

and the public is looking?

I agree with you, Amy.

Public is looking for any incentive, any kind of breakthrough they can get because these cars are so expensive.

This is indeed a nod also to the UAW.

And it's also staying right in line with her president in the fact that he just landed today.

The endorsement of the UAW doesn't necessarily trickle down to all of the rank and file, but from high up, it's saying we are going to put the muscle of this large union behind President Biden.

I think this EV thing is a ticking time bomb for her.

Yeah, I don't disagree with you on that.

They're just not selling.

And then you get the news that the EVs in Chicago had to be towed away because they lost their charge in the winter because of cold temps.

Listen.

What a killer story that was.

You know, I was thinking about buying an EV and I turned to my wife and I said, you know what?

Which one of us is going to stand out there for 3 hours to charge this puppy?

Yeah, I think this is a problem for the for the Ds.

The UAW comes out and endorses Biden today when the big sticking point for them was EVs.

And supposedly with everything you say and Kyle and Chuck and Amy are saying nevertheless, the UAW went ahead and endorsed Biden.

You know Toyota coming out today.

One of their leaders saying no more than a third is going to ever be EV.

I also want to point out, you know, this Michigan vehicle rebate is a revamp from something that she put out.

What was it last year or the year before when they were only it was only the only EVs now she's she's broadened it to $1,000 for any new car.

Well, Mr. Nesbitt.

500 for union members, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

But Mr. Nesbitt in the news conference he had earlier today said that that rebate would be eaten up the cars of the dealers he's talking to in about two weeks.

So you bet.

If they're going to use it, folks, you better be at the front of the line because it is not going to last forever.

But seriously, I want to see the price tag and all of these seven or so tax cuts.

I think that's always key, right?

We can say whatever, how are you going to pay for it?

And that's always where the rubber meets the road.

You know, is there the political will to to do this?

Because let's face it, I mean, you can get anything done if you put your mind to it.

But if you have a split, you know, legislature, that might complicate things a little bit.

And obviously money is always an issue.

So we didn't get any price tags.

We've got 12 pages of a speech here and we don't have a whole lot of dollars that we're seeing.

Time comes around for, that There will be no statewide address to the people, you know, to explain all of these things.

Well, I will say, though, that last budget had a lot of one time goodies in it.

I think it was like 1 to $2 billion billion dollars.

One time spending.

One time spending that maybe she can use to fund some of this stuff.

So I don't think that's an improbable ask there.

All right.

So the people that were watching nationally looking for some sort of signal about her plans in the future, they got nothing or did they?

Oh, I think they got something, frankly.

I think she looked like a plausible, sensible vice president or maybe even president possibly.

I think I mean, while I agree with you, I think she always presents herself well, there's certainly no question about that.

I don't think that she gave a nod in anything she said to what the future holds for her politically.

This was not a political speech in terms of I'm setting myself up for something.

Is that a fair analysis?

I think that's a fair analysis.

And I agree with my colleagues.

It wasn't in anything that she said, but it was how she presented herself.

It was the confidence that she exuded.

It was the type of issues and topics that she dealt with, big picture education, things that easily can be translated to the National Front, that no matter what state you're in, it's an issue of concern the economy, inflation, all of those things.

And she delivered a very good speech.

I would agree that she's lost her Midwest accent too.

And I do think that that's worth noting because, I mean, that tells you that she's actually practicing speech patterns.

Whoa, Melinn what did you have for dinner?

I just want to say that she has who she is.

She's not You watch that first speech and shes got a little bit of Yooper in her.

this speech.

Did not have any of that.

You think she's getting speech coaching lessons.

It would not surprise me at all.

I think she's totally lost it.

No, totally.

But it is certainly worn off.

I will go back and listen because I got to be honest with you.

I've covered this and I've never.

because you might have one.

Well, yeah.

Yeah, I know, I know.

I never thought I had one wither until I was told I did.

And I said, Prove it.

And so then they told me a couple words and I'm like, Well, yeah, that's how you say it.

And I said, No, no, no.

Youre missing a G That's what you're talking about Eh.

You're you're fading out on some of your words.

I know Maybe we all have to move to the U.P.

know, we're talking about.

Speaking about moving on.

Let's thank all of you for a great analysis.

And thanks to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to watch.

And hopefully you got something out of it.

Remember, on Off the Record, we'll have more commentary on what's going on in Lansing.

Join us then.

So Chuck, Kyle, Amy, Bill, peace.

Thank you very much.

Go Lions.

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