As governor, lowering costs for Michiganders is one of my top priorities. People need a little more breathing room in their budget so they can protect and provide for their families and build a bright future here in Michigan.
Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty in our economy. From tariffs impacting small businesses and auto manufacturers to the high cost of groceries and housing, it’s hard to plan for a secure future when the day to day is so unstable.
I want to hear from you about how we can best help lower costs for you and your family. Make your voice heard by sharing your opinion in the survey below so we can keep working together to lower costs.
Sincerely,
 Republican Tax Plan and Tariffs will Hurt Middle-Class Michiganders
Over the past several months, Republicans in Washington have enacted damaging tariffs and passed a disastrous budget that will hurt middle class Michiganders. People will be kicked off their health care, their food benefits, and could 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 fix up their house or car.
Last month, I shared a report from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), a congressional committee that studies and advises Congress on the state of the U.S. economy. It detailed how the 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. A typical teacher will lose nearly $500 next year, while firefighters and truck drivers will lose about $470. Assemblers and fabricators, including so many folks who work in Michigan auto factories, will lose out on nearly $600 next year. Given that manufacturing makes up a huge chunk of our economy, this loss of income will be devastating for families in every region of the state and our economy overall. Meanwhile, top earners will make even more 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.
As governor, I do not have control over international tariffs or federal taxes. But I am doing everything I can to protect Michigan consumers and lower prices of everyday goods. Under my watch, Michigan won’t raise costs for working families to pay for a tax cut for billionaires.
I’ll keep working with anyone to make sure middle-class Michiganders have the tools and support they need to make it in Michigan.
Delivering for Michigan’s Working Families
Since day one, I have 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, we have:
- Quintupled the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit to give over 700,000 working families an average tax refund of $3,150.
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Signed bills codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law, protecting care for millions.
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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.
- The Great Start Readiness Program, Michigan's free PreK program, has reached its highest enrollment in a decade, saving families $10,000 a year for a total of $475 million in savings statewide.
Contact your Representatives
If you are concerned about how President Trump's tariffs and Republicans’ tax plan could hurt you and your family, it’s important to make your voice heard.
Contact your Member of Congress, the White House, and your U.S. Senator:
- House of Representatives – You may contact your U.S. Representative by calling the U.S. House switchboard at 202-224-3121 or by visiting the U.S. House website at house.gov to find your representative.
- White House Comments line – (202) 456-1111
- White House Switchboard – (202) 456-1414
- Senator Gary Peters – You may contact Senator Peters’ office by calling 313-226-6020 or by visiting his website at peters.senate.gov.
- Senator Elissa Slotkin – You may contact Senator Slotkin's office by calling 202-224-4822 or by visiting her website at slotkin.senate.gov.
- You may also contact my office and make your voice heard at Michigan.gov/Whitmer or call 517-335-7858.
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