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As governor, I know that what makes Michigan special is its people. That’s why I’m so proud of our balanced, bipartisan budget deal that invests in families and communities all throughout the state. This budget makes critical investments where it matters most – but I know there’s still work to be done. That’s why I’m pushing to lower costs for families, cut taxes, and provide inflation relief. That’s why I am focused on fighting for women to have control over their bodies, including by being informed about reproductive health and having access to birth control. And that’s why we are still working to fix the damn roads across Michigan, ensuring people have a safe route on their way to work or school. I am committed to working with anyone who is willing to put Michiganders first.
Since day one, I have been focused on delivering on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to working families. Last week, the Michigan legislature and I agreed to a balanced, bipartisan budget that invests in families and communities For example:
Honoring those who serve
To ensure those who served have the support they need, the budget funds construction of a new veterans’ home in Marquette, backs a suicide prevention outreach campaign, and shores up the pensions of MSP troopers. To honor the memory of those we have lost, it establishes a veterans’ cemetery in Grayling.
Building up infrastructure
The budget expands on the investments in the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan I signed in April by speeding up replacement of lead service lines, reducing traffic congestion at local rail crossings, improving state fish hatcheries, and funding long-overdue maintenance projects at state facilities.
Funding critical local projects
The budget will make critical improvements to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County; invest in Innovate Mound, a transformative project to rebuild Mound Road, one of the most important corridors in Southeast Michigan; and modernize Michigan’s armories, shoring up our readiness and supporting local construction jobs.
This budget makes critical investments in working families and communities to help them thrive; it is proof of what’s possible when we put working families and communities first and stay focused on getting things done.
Right now, Michiganders are facing rising prices at the pump, the grocery store, and on countless everyday expenses. We need to come together to offer them real inflation relief right now. We can get this done because we still have billions of dollars in revenue left on the state balance sheet after our budget.
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This week, my staff is holding a virtual briefing on environment issues. It will be held this Thursday, July 14, from 2:00p.m. - 2:30p.m.
During the event, you will hear from renowned environmental experts on how my administration is working to improve the environment to create a cleaner and green Michigan where we can all thrive. Panelists include:
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Kerry C. Duggan, Founder and CEO of SustainabilD
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Dr. Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director for the City of Ann Arbor
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Kara Cook, Senior Advisor on Energy and the Environment to Governor Gretchen Whitmer
In addition to hearing from the experts, we would also like to hear from you! Please submit questions ahead of time, and my staff will get to as many as we can during the live event.
Last week, I joined the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to launch a public education campaign to inform people about the important differences between emergency contraception and medication abortion.
 Emergency contraception and medication abortion are completely different medications used for entirely different purposes. Both are currently legal in Michigan. But there is a lot of confusion, and so it’s critical that we launch this new public effort to give women and families the best, most accurate information about these medications.
This week, I called on President Biden to make birth control available over the counter without a prescription, knocking down a costly barrier to accessing essential medication. This comes after a new application with the Food and Drug administration (FDA) by HRA Pharma to make birth control available over-the-counter.
We need to get creative and use every tool in our toolbox to protect reproductive freedom in Michigan and across the United States. This letter to President Biden urges federal action to make birth control available over-the-counter, so Michiganders and Americans nationwide are able to access it without a prescription. In the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we must pull out all the stops and take bold steps to protect women by ensuring that health – not politics – guides medical decisions. Let's work together so women have control over their own bodies.
Yesterday, I announced nine major road projects slated to begin this week in Berrien, Cheboygan, Lenawee, Mackinac, Manistee, Mecosta, Montcalm, Oakland, and Wayne counties. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects include:
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I-94 resurfacing project in Berrien County
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Preparation work for the I-75 repair and rebuilding project in Cheboygan County
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M-50 resurfacing and improvement project in Lenawee County
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US-2 Rebuilding Michigan Project in Mackinac County
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US-31/M-22 roundabout project in Manistee County
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US-131 rebuilding in Mecosta County
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M-91 Flat River bridge improvements in Montcalm County
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I-96 Flex Route update in Oakland County and the next phase of work on I-275 Rebuilding Michigan Project in Wayne County
Across Michigan, we are fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. These investments in Berrien, Cheboygan, Lenawee, Mackinac, Manistee, Mecosta, Montcalm, Oakland, and Wayne counties will support 7,838 jobs, and help Michiganders go to work, run errands, and explore our beautiful state safely.
Since I took office through the end of 2022, we will have invested 70% more in our roads than the previous four years to fix over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. Both my Rebuilding Michigan Plan and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan are helping us build safe, reliable infrastructure that makes a difference for families and small business across the state. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, so let’s keep moving dirt and getting it done.
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