Previewing the 2023 Michigan State of the State Address
Targeted tax relief, law enforcement funding and expanding pre-kindergarten access are expected to highlight this year’s address.
FILE - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrates her re-election at the Michigan Democratic election night watch party at MotorCity Casino in Detroit, Mich. on Nov. 8, 2022.
This evening at 7 p.m., Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver the annual State of the State address in Lansing, which we will broadcast live right here on WDET. It will be her first address with Democrats holding majorities in both the state House and Senate.
That means the plans she lays out may have real teeth, as the party has a unique opportunity to realize the governor’s agenda.
“With these razor thin majorities, I think it might make sense to start off with a few things with some bipartisan support.” — Emily Lawler, Detroit Free Press
Listen: The big issues Governor Whitmer will discuss in her State of the State Address.
Guests
Emily Lawler is the state politics and government editor at the Detroit Free Press. She expects Governor Whitmer to focus most of her speech on areas that have support from both Republicans and Democrats.
“I expect those to be the big things going through Lansing in the first year here, because they do have that buy-in from Republicans and Democrats,” says Lawler. “With these razor thin majorities, I think it might make sense to start off with a few things with some bipartisan support.
Zach Gorchow is the publisher and executive editor of the Gongwer News Service in Lansing. He says Governor Whitmer may also cover housing in her address because of the efforts of House and Senate Democrats.
“I don’t know that we’re going to hear specifics tonight, but I think there might be some type of broad overture,” says Gorchow. “The Democrats in the legislature, now in the majority, have elevated housing as an issue.”
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