FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 6, 2022 

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Photos: Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Kicks Off Thriving Seniors Tour with Event in Detroit  

DETROIT, Mich. – Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II kicked off his Thriving Seniors Tour in Detroit, inspired by his 2019 Thriving Cities Tour, meeting with more than 30 seniors from the Franklin Wright Human Service Agency. The Thriving Seniors tour highlights the needs of older Michiganders through open and honest conversations about what actions Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist II have taken to support Michigan seniors, including the investments made in the FY 2023 budget and what still needs to be done to make Michigan a great place to live, work, and retire.  

“I am excited to kick off my Thriving Seniors tour,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Over the next few months, I will be traveling across Michigan and having face to face conversations with seniors about the issues that matter. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to advocating for seniors, repealing the retirement tax, boosting access to affordable healthcare and housing, and building a senior-friendly Michigan that is the best place to retire.” 

For the next few months, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II will be visiting with seniors in communities throughout Michigan. Like his 2019 and 2021 Thriving Cities tours, he will be updating those in attendance on the work the Whitmer – Gilchrist administration has done recently to support Michigan workers, families, and seniors. The Thriving Seniors tour will include stops in Ann Arbor, the Downriver area, Grand Rapids, Port Huron, Traverse City, and other communities across Michigan, meeting with residents from across the state.   “As older Michiganders face challenges across the state, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in Lansing to help Detroiters of all ages succeed in our state," said Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck. “The Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration and I share a common belief that we must do more to help tackle the problems our more seasoned Michiganders face in their daily lives. Thank you to all the seniors and elders in the community who shared their experiences today. I am committed to working to offer solutions that dignify the seniors in my community.”  

Advocating for Older Michiganders  

The Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration is focused on tackling the problems older Michiganders face in their day to day lives. They set a goal to become the first “age-friendly state” in the Midwest by proposing bold initiatives to lower costs for seniors including a roll back of the retirement tax, expanding nursing home support payments, signing bipartisan legislation to end surprise billing, establishing a task force to tackle the cost of prescription drugs, and more.  

The administration’s FY 2023 budget builds on the work Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have done to make Michigan a state that is friendly to people of all ages. It provides funds to boost home-delivery meal services, dementia care, and other community services and investments for seniors. The administration also created Michigan’s Health and Aging Services Administration (HASA) to strengthen support and services for older Michiganders.  

Learn more about the Whitmer – Gilchrist Administration’s efforts to improve the quality of life for all older Michiganders here.  

Repeal of the Retirement Tax 

The Whitmer – Gilchrist Administration is proposing a rollback of the retirement tax, which would save half a million households with pensions an average of $1,000 a year. By the end of 2024, their proposal would again exempt public pensions and restore deductions for private retirement income, including private-sector pensions, withdrawals from individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and the portion of a 401k account that is subject to an employer match. 

Putting hard-earned dollars back in the pockets of Michigan’s retirees is good for them and good for the economy. Repealing the retirement tax can save 500,000 households an average of $1,000 a year. That’s hundreds for prescriptions, rent, utilities, car payments, or gifts for grandkids.