Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her first state of the state address at the State Capitol in Lansing Tuesday. She focused on LGBT rights, infrastructure, and education. Zoe Clark is Michigan Radio’s program director and our resident political junkie. She joined Morning Edition host Doug Tribou to talk about the speech.
Clark says Whitmer's biggest proposals Tuesday night included what the governor has referred to as "dining room table issues," such as education.
"So you can hear her talking directly, it felt like, to Michiganders who were watching or listening to the speech, rather than necessarily lawmakers who were in the chamber," says Clark.
Whitmer also addressed some Democratic issues, such as LGBT rights in the state. When asked about the expansion of LGBT rights after the speech, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-16th District) told Michigan Radio he believes his chamber has higher priority issues.
So what's next for Michigan's new governor?
"One of the bigggest things now for this governor is how is she going to pay for all of these proposals, right? And this speech is very much about big vision and policy goals," says Clark. "What you want to watch for is early March. That is when the governor will deliver her budget proposal for the year and how she plans to actually pay for this wish list."
