Whitmer’s Final State of the State Focuses on Costs Facing Michigan Families

Governor Gretchen Whitmer used her final State of the State address to lay out what she wants to accomplish before leaving office, and she says the focus is simple. Helping Michigan families deal with rising costs. Whitmer says the next 10 months will center on affordability, education, housing, and healthcare.

Why Michigan’s Reading Rankings Are a Concern

One major concern is literacy according to WJRT. Michigan currently ranks 44th in the country for fourth grade reading, something the governor called unacceptable. She is pushing for what she says would be the largest one time literacy investment in state history to help students catch up.

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Housing is another big issue. Whitmer says Michigan needs more affordable places to live, and her plan includes tax credits, changes to construction laws, and making it easier to build homes across the state.

Whitmer Targets Medical Debt and Hospital Costs

She also wants to tackle medical debt, which she says is crushing families financially. Her proposal would cap interest rates on medical debt, keep it off credit reports, require hospitals to offer financial assistance programs, and prevent people from losing their homes because of unpaid medical bills.

Republicans Respond to Whitmer’s Final Address

Republicans were quick to respond. State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt criticized the governor’s record, pointing to road repairs as something he believes still has not been fixed. Nesbitt, who is running for governor, also used the moment to outline his own vision for Michigan.

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Whitmer has about ten months left in office before the next governor takes over. You can watch her address in the video below.