Last night the Governor delivered her fifth State of the State Address. As predicted, she mentioned many of the issues that have received early attention in the legislature including rolling back the tax on retirement income, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, abortion, civil rights for the LGBTQ community, and public education. There were three overarching themes she highlighted in her speech.

• Folks working hard to care for themselves and support their families.
• Young people about to graduate.
• Michiganders born today.

Some of the specific programs and proposals she mentioned were, lowering the eligibility age to 21 for the Michigan Reconnect program that currently offers anyone 25 and older a tuition-free associate’s degree or skills training, covering the cost of preschool for those that are 4 years old, creating a sustainable economic development fund, and investing in public safety.

To read the Governor’s speech, click here.

To watch the Governor’s speech, click here.

Finally, the Governor mentioned the importance of economic development efforts while growing talent, making our communities better places to live, and helping our state become a place where anyone can thrive. We agree with the Governor that now is the time to make investments in our communities.

In response to the speech, the League put out a statement highlight the importance of thriving communities and our willingness to work with the Governor and legislative leaders to enhance revenue sharing, invest in infrastructure, and address our housing needs. To read the League’s statement click here.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at [email protected] or 517-908-0303.