Sturgis-Coldwater News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer highlighted some of her bipartisan accomplishments during the State of the State remarks, two of which the Mackinac Center for Public Policy is in support of.

Many of the ideas proposed in the governor's speech were in support of government expansion, but auto insurance reforms and the Clean State Legislation would limit the role of the government, according to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. 

During the speech, nine government expansions were brought forward by Whitmer, all of which had 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," the Center reported.

But some of the ideas brought forward won't do much good for the state's economy or public health system, according to the Center's press release. One of these ideas is Whitmer's plan to bring back select incentive programs, such as Good Jobs for Michigan. 

“The government is throttling small businesses across the state," Michael LaFaive, senior director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center, told the Center's website. "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.”

Other expansions Whitmer proposed during the address include: implementing regulatory changes recommended by the prescription drug task force; 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 raising wages for home health care workers by $2 an hour; creating new ways for local governments to raise taxes for roads; and spending more money on Michigan’s water infrastructure.