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I am thrilled to welcome you to the new year and a new term! I want to thank you for your hard work to support your fellow Michiganders, provide vital services, staff our facilities, and keep our state moving forward. January has brought some exciting changes to our state, and I am proud to tackle them side by side.??
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
Earlier this month, we welcomed the 102nd Michigan State Legislature. I am honored to welcome new and returning members to Lansing and hit the ground running! I also want to congratulate two history-making leaders. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks is the first Woman Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House Joe Tate is Michigan?s first Black Speaker.
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As the first female Senate Majority Leader, Leader Brinks has shown her unwavering leadership to the state of Michigan through her decade of involvement in our state?s politics. She successfully won her election and re-election and has been a persistent leader in our Michigan Legislature ever since. As she continues her career in the senate, Leader Brinks? leadership style will focus on collaboration and consensus across the aisle to make important and necessary changes for the betterment of our Michigan families.??
As Michigan?s First Black House Speaker, Speaker Tate?s climb to leadership has been swift and steadfast. He was elected to the Michigan State Legislature in 2018 where he was the minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee during his second term, allowing him to have a leading role in the historic budget changes in Michigan. As he continues his career in this new role, Speaker Tate plans to prioritize working across the aisle to ensure effective and crucial rights are fought for by our legislature.
It is great to see Michigan?s legislature reflect the people that call our state home, and I?m looking forward to getting to work on our shared priorities to keep Michigan Moving Forward!?
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In 2011, seniors had the rug ripped out from under them. Our family members, who worked their whole lives, deserve to keep every penny they?ve put towards retirement. Earlier this month, Senator Kevin Hertel and Representative Angela Witwer introduced the bill to repeal this tax. Rolling this tax back means an extra $1,000 in retirees? pockets each year. I?m excited to come together with my partners in the Michigan Legislature to announce these bills that will deliver tax fairness for seniors and working families. Senate Bill 1 has passed the MI Senate 23-15, and House Bill 4001 passed 67-41. I look forward to signing the final bill and delivering on this relief for retirees.
At the end of last year, I appointed Gail M. Wilson from Farmington Hills to the Michigan Civil Service Commission. She is the current Director of Human Resources & Compliance and HIPAA Privacy Officer at the Michigan Conference of Teamsters Welfare Fund and holds two law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University. Ms. Wilson is taking over for Janet McClelland, whose term expired on December 31, 2022, representing Democrats on the bipartisan commission.
The Civil Service Commission works to classify positions according to duties, fixes compensation rates, and regulates conditions of service for all state employees. I am thrilled to add Gail Wilson to this important board, and I know she will continue to step up for state employees.?
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