In the last few months, Whitmer has talked less about the pandemic. While her decision to lift mask recommendation follows local health rulings, it coincides with rising anger over pandemic policies.
Whitmer wants to eliminate the pension tax. The Senate wants to lower income taxes. Now, some legislators want to pass on the savings to animal owners.
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations falling, Michigan health officials have drafted new mask guidelines which no longer recommend masking in many public indoor settings, including schools.
Lansing has tax cut fever. Republicans want to reduce income tax rates as part of a $2 billion tax cut. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also is proposing her own cuts.
We spend a lot of time debating how much money should go into the education of our children, and very little thinking about how best to spend those funds.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed education budget plan focused mostly on the state’s struggling K-12 schools. But Michigan universities and community colleges would also get a big spending bump, assuming GOP lawmakers buy in.
The international link between Detroit and Windsor is the busiest trade route between the U.S. and Canada. The protests halted auto production as essential supplies — from auto parts to food — languished, prompting concerns by Michigan officials.
Michigan suffered as bridge traffic was halted all week, with auto industry shutdowns resulting from shipping delays. The truckers were protesting mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for them to cross the border.
Auto production slowed this week as the so-called ‘Freedom Caravan’ continued its blockade of the Ambassador and Blue Water bridge crossings to Canada over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Schools are battling teacher shortages, mental health concerns and more. Gov. Whitmer said she wants to make “bold investments” in education with billions of additional dollars in state and federal funds. Republicans say they are eager to talk, but wary of the tab.
Gretchen Whitmer’s $74 billion budget would be by far the largest in state history. But problems with roads, schools, infrastructure and broadband have been years in the making and became worse in the pandemic.
COVID continues to disrupt the number of high school graduates enrolling in college, which has consequences for the state’s economy. School counselors are seeing the pandemic’s toll as the governor seeks to boost student success.
Jobless workers received notices they have to repay benefits, sometimes $20,000 or more. But many applied in good faith, and now won’t face restitution due to federal waivers.
Under the governor’s budget proposal being announced Wednesday, Michigan students would reap huge benefits from billions of dollars in state surplus and federal COVID relief funds.
Policymakers should look back to Michigan’s recent history and use this opportunity to address some of the tough budget choices made during the last two decades.
The sales tax on femine hygiene products has long been criticized. Gov. Whitmer signed legislation in November to repeal the tax. It went into effect this week.
