FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 25, 2025    

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Gov. Whitmer Highlights New Report Finding That Republican Tax and Tariff Plans Will Cost Middle-Class Workers Hundreds of Dollars Next Year 

Report from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) - Minority, a congressional committee that studies and advises Congress on the state of the U.S. economy, details how Republican tax and tariff plans will take hundreds of dollars from average middle-class workers to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, with the release of a new report from the JEC - Minority, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted the impact the Republicans’ tax and tariff plan will have on middle-class workers across Michigan. Their report finds that the typical firefighter, teacher, truck driver, and other middle-class workers will lose out on hundreds of dollars next year to pay for a massive tax cut for the rich. Additionally, according to a second report by the JEC – Minority, under the Republican’s budget bill, 16 million Americans will lose health insurance, including more than 420,000 Michiganders, by 2034. 

"The Republican tax and tariff plans will hurt the hardest working Michiganders who need a lifeline,” said Governor Whitmer. “Middle class Michiganders will be kicked off of their health care and lose out on hundreds of dollars during tax season next year. This is money folks rely on to keep the power on, put groceries on the table, and even send their kids to school. We can’t raise costs for working families to pay for a tax cut for the rich. I’ll keep working with anyone to make sure middle-class Michiganders have the tools and support they need to make it in Michigan.” 

"Republicans tax and tariff plans will take money out of the pockets of middle-class Michiganders and give it to the wealthiest Americans,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “They will kick Michiganders off their health care and make it harder to get by. This is unacceptable. Governor Whitmer and I fought to lower costs for working families by repealing the retirement tax and expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. We’ll keep Standing Tall to lower costs and help every working Michigander thrive.” 

“From instability caused by tariff policies to forcing a bill through Congress that would rip away health care and food assistance from millions of Americans, President Trump’s agenda will raise the cost of living and make it harder for everyday Michiganders to make ends meet,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Former Member of JEC. “As lawmakers, we should be focused on helping hardworking families succeed, not giving tax cuts to billionaires.” 

Impact of Tax and Tariff Plans on Middle-Class Michiganders 

The JEC – Minority report found that the Republican tax and tariff plans will devastate middle-class Americans. A typical teacher will lose nearly $500 next year, while firefighters and truck drivers will lose about $470. Meanwhile, a top earner will make money, with individuals in the top 0.1% receiving a net tax break of nearly $350,000 in 2026, even after accounting for the impact of tariffs.  

The report highlights how the Republican tax and tariff plans will be specifically catastrophic for Michigan by including the impact on assemblers and fabricators. Professionals in these roles will lose out on nearly $600 next year alone. Given that manufacturing makes up roughly 14.2% of Michigan’s workforce, this loss of income will be devastating for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders, hurting their pockets and our state’s economy.  

Impact of Cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) 

According to a second report by JEC - Minority, more than 420,000 Michiganders will lose health insurance by 2034 under the current Republican budget. Their plan would make qualifying for Marketplace and Medicaid coverage more difficult, removing many of the protections that make enrollment in coverage affordable and accessible. These changes will force millions of Americans to pay more for private insurance or live without health insurance, hurting people’s pockets and risking countless lives as a result. Additionally, by reducing access to affordable health care, this bill will dramatically increase the number of uninsured Americans, with ripple effects that will raise costs throughout the entire health care system. 

Delivering for Michigan’s Working Families 

Governor Whitmer has been committing to fighting for working families, ensuring they have access to the tools and support they need to make it in Michigan. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has: 

• Quintupled the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit to give over 700,000 working families an average tax refund of $3,150. 

• Signed bills codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law, protecting care for millions.  

• Provided bipartisan, free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, forgiving all school meal debt. Continued summer meal program. 

• Funded programs like Reconnect, Futures for Frontliners, and Michigan Achievement Scholarship to lower the cost of higher education for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders and get them on paths to higher education or skills training that leads to a good-paying job. 

• Made historic investments in affordable housing to build 2,000 affordable, attainable rental housing units, and leverage $380 million in private funding. 

• Leveraged over $900 million to connect rural communities to reliable high-speed internet. 

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