In a televised address at 7 p.m. Tuesday, our new governor may lower expectations for what can be accomplished with current state resources.
That State of the State forecast comes from Susan J. Demas, editor of Michigan Advance, a Lansing newsletter. She notes:
The governor earlier this month expressed frustration that Snyder and Republicans spent down $500 million of the state surplus. . . . The cost to fix Michigan’s roads — the governor’s signature issue — is pegged at more than $2 billion annually.
Gretchen Whitmer speaks to legislators at the Capitol in a speech streamed at michigan.gov/misots19 and shown in Metro Detroit on WTVS, WDIV and other stations. Radio stations WWJ and WDET also will air it.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (Photo: Twitter)
Demas' preview adds:
Whitmer is expected to outline the challenges the state is facing after the last eight years, starting with state government as a whole. . . . Whitmer will discuss key problems: low employee morale, lack of diversity and lack of resources.
She is likely to call to address these issues by reforming state government. . . .
The two big policy fronts Whitmer is expected to hit on are public education and, of course, her campaign mantra of "fixing the damn roads." . . . She likely will frame roads and schools as dual challenges that are harming Michigan’s long-term health.
