Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs legislation to include the rights of LGBTQ people in Michigan’s civil rights law Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan.
Rick Pluta/Michigan Public Radio Network
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Rick Pluta/Michigan Public Radio Network
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs legislation to include the rights of LGBTQ people in Michigan’s civil rights law Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan.
Rick Pluta/Michigan Public Radio Network
Lansing, Mich. — In her state of the state address this year, Governor Gretchen Whitmer had something no other Democratic governor has had since the early 1980s: a legislature willing to pass her agenda, albeit with only a two-seat majority in both chambers.
“We spoke with a clear voice in November,” Whitmer said. “We want the ability to raise a family without breaking the bank, strong protections for our fundamental rights to vote and control our own bodies.”
And the Democrats have wasted no time in bringing their top priorities to the governor’s desk. Within the first two months of the long legislative session, the Democrats passed their central tax planan invoice to repeal the defunct 1931 state ban on abortion and legislation to create civil rights protections for LGBTQ people.
Moving on from your big priorities
Some items, like the expansion of civil rights, got a few Republican votes, while the repeal of the abortion ban moved closer to party lines.
“I am grateful that we are finally, finally addressing it and repealing this archaic and punitive law once and for all,” said Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-A.C., who sponsored the abortion repeal. Pohutsky physically tore a page containing the old law from a Michigan statute book as she spoke.
But not everything has been easy. Democratic leadership learned a hard lesson when voting on big tax cut got messy.
The plan began as two separate proposals to cut taxes on pension income and increase the earned income tax credit, but funding for business incentives and other spending was compromised.
When the House vote came, after hours of waiting, no one was allowed to speak. Republican anger was palpable as they yelled for leadership.
Full steam ahead, no regrets
This moxy comes after years of Democrats feeling powerless in the minority, often getting beaten up. Now, they find themselves using some of the same tactics for which they once criticized Republicans.
“The voters exercised their power in terms of what they wanted us to do,” said Democratic Speaker of the House Joe Tate. “They want us to be effective and I think we’ve shown that.”
Now, Democrats are rushing to pass the last of their first goals before spring break.
That means getting labor priorities, like repealing the state’s 2012 right-to-work law and a requirement for construction contracts to pay the governor the prevailing wage. Also, a deadly mass shooting at Michigan State University pushed gun control bills up the priority list.
A large crowd attends a rally to demand action on gun safety at the Michigan State Capitol on March 15, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan. The rally comes as gun safety bills make their way through the Michigan legislature.
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A large crowd attends a rally to demand action on gun safety at the Michigan State Capitol on March 15, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan. The rally comes as gun safety bills make their way through the Michigan legislature.
Chris DuMond/Getty Images
Some Warn Democrats May Be Moving Too Fast
Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping speed will backfire. While their colleagues sell the labor proposals as pro-labor, Republicans argue that they are unpopular and costly.
“This is the beginning of Democrat overreach that will lead to their demise and the Republicans retaking the House,” House Minority Leader Matt Hall told reporters before his chamber passed the legislation. derogation of the right to work.
“They shouldn’t swallow, they should slurp,” says Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan President and CEO Jimmy Greene, a longtime supporter of the right to work.
He says he understands why the Democrats are moving so fast this time, but warns against overdoing it.
“They should show that they are accountable with power. Right now, it seems like they are power hungry,” says Greene.
It’s hard to say how strong the Democratic majority really is, Greene says. The Democrats arguably won control of the legislature with the help of a mass turnout driven by a ballot measure on the right to abortion. Not to mention the new independent voting districts that ended up being competitive anyway.
One factor in favor of the Democrats, however: infighting within the state Republican Party.
“I think the Republican Party is the greatest gift the Democrats have. The idea that they’re doing all of this right now with (an) absolutely dysfunctional, inoperative and bankrupt party apparatus?” Greene says. “Let’s be honest. They’re not scared of the Republicans. I wouldn’t be.”
There could be a long way to go. The legislature still has the entire year to meet.
colin jackson is the capitol reporter on the Michigan Public Radio Network.