Gov. Whitmer promised to fix the roads, build bridges, and improve healthcare access but all we’ve gotten are failed tax increases, political games that used children and critical services as negotiating pawns, and Whitmer’s embrace of Medicare-for-all.
January 28, 2020
Gov. Whitmer promised to fix the roads, build bridges, and improve healthcare access but all we’ve gotten are failed tax increases, political games that used children and critical services as negotiating pawns, and Whitmer’s embrace of Medicare-for-all. As we prepare for Whitmer’s state of the state and state of the union response, it’s important to remember that she has no leadership accomplishments, only a long track record of broken promises.
Broken Promise: As a gubernatorial candidate and governor, Whitmer has repeatedly promised she would “Fix the damn roads.”
Outcome: As governor, Whitmer vetoed $375 million in spending that was appropriated for roads and bridges.
What Happened: During her campaign, Gretchen Whitmer often touted her call to ‘fix the damn roads’ and simultaneously called the idea of raising taxes to do it, “ridiculous.” Fast forward to Whitmer’s first budget cycle as governor where she proposed a 45-cent gas tax increase that was opposed by both parties in the legislature. After the legislature appropriated $375 million for roads, Whitmer vetoed it along with other critical services – and diverted additional road funds to transit in hopes to negotiate for her failed tax increase.
Broken Promise: “Building bridges.”
Outcome: Whitmer vetoed funds for a bridge she personally called a “public safety issue.”
What Happened: During her campaign and inauguration Gretchen Whitmer spoke often of “building bridges” both literally and figuratively. Fast forward to her time in office, Gov. Whitmer vetoed funds for a bridge she called a public safety issue.
Outcome: Whitmer used at-risk students, public safety, rural healthcare, opioid addiction treatment, and people with autism as political negotiating pawns.
What Happened: After the legislature did not support her plan to raise taxes, Whitmer vetoed funds for at-risk students, public safety, rural healthcare, opioid addiction treatment, people with autism, veterans services.
Broken Promise: As a gubernatorial candidate, Whitmer promised to expand FOIA to the governor’s office.
Outcome: As governor, Whitmer has not yet extended FOIA to her office.
What Happened: From the AP: On February 1, 2019, Whitmer “Issued a directive aimed at making it easier to obtain public documents from state departments but stopped short of taking the same action for the governor’s office.”
Broken Promise: Whitmer vowed to promote Michigan businesses and workers as governor.
Outcome: Whitmer’s budget vetoes and actions taken through the Michigan Strategic Fund hurt Michigan business communities and cut funding for worker training and Pure Michigan advertisements.
What Happened: During the last budget cycle, Whitmer vetoed $37 million for Michigan’s Going Pro worker training program and Pure Michigan advertisements. Additionally, the small communities of Paw Paw, Alpena, and Manistee got caught in a funding cut from Michigan Strategic Fund grants as a result of Whitmer’s failed budget negotiations.
Broken Promise: As a candidate for governor, Whitmer promised to expand rural health care access and called Medicare for all “unrealistic.”
Outcome: As governor, Whitmer vetoed rural hospital funding, only for it to be restored in a supplemental budget. Whitmer has also embraced the far-left Medicare-for-all policy which would eliminate employer-sponsored health insurance.
What Happened: In September 2018, one of Whitmer’s policy platforms included “Ensuring every Michigander has access to the care they need – from senior citizens to those living in rural communities.” As governor, Whitmer vetoed $34 million in funding for smaller critical access hospitals, $17.5 million to train physicians in medical specialties most needed in underserved communities, $16 million for rural hospitals that are the sole option in their community and nearly $8 million to help rural hospitals hire qualified obstetricians – even though a quarter of Michigan’s rural hospitals were already considered at “high risk” of closing.
Finally, like many other liberals trending toward the far-left, Whitmer has embraced Medicare-for-all, stating, “I’ve supported it in concept. I think it’s got to come from the national, the federal level… I think that there’s a good opportunity there.”