By Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Every November, Michiganders come together with friends and family to enjoy eat good food, watch the Lions win, and reflect on the past year. This year, as we all prepare to sit down for our Thanksgiving feasts, too many Michigan families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. They’re dealing with more economic uncertainty and constantly rising costs. That’s why I’m working hard with Republicans and Democrats in Lansing to lower your costs and put money back in your pocket. We want you to afford a good life right here in Michigan.
Over the past nine months, the federal government has slapped tariffs on nearly every country and nearly everything. When used strategically, tariffs can help a place like Michigan, but our current broad, unfocused tariffs are causing prices on everything to go up. Reports from Michigan state departments show that families are paying more for meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Health care premiums on the Affordable Care Act exchange are double or triple what they were last year. The Michigan Retailers Association found that two-thirds of small retailers have increased prices because of tariffs.
While I can’t control the national tariff rate, we can work together to lower costs for Michiganders and make life a little more affordable. This year, I’ve advocated for a more strategic trade policy that brings jobs to Michigan without raising cost on the essentials, provoking retaliation from other countries, and preventing large and small businesses from planning for the future.
I’m also proud I signed my seventh balanced, bipartisan state budget. It continues the expanded Working Families Tax Credit and keeps rolling back of the retirement tax. It also ends state taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security. And it includes the largest roads deal in Michigan to fix the damn state AND local roads, saving you time and money while making your entire drive from your house to work, school, or the store smoother and safer. Our budget also protects access to health care and keeps hospitals open in underserved areas so Michiganders don’t have to travel far to get the care they need. And it continues feeding all 1.4 million public school students free breakfast and lunch at school, saving parents nearly $1,000 per kid, per year and valuable time in the morning.
While I can’t lower the national tariffs, I’ll keep fighting hard to lower costs and put more money back in your pocket. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made with this year’s budget and I’ll continue advocating for a commonsense trade policy. Let’s work together to help more Michiganders ‘make it’ in Michigan.
