Gov. Whitmer signs the auto insurance reform bill.
Update, 10:53 a.m. Thursday:Auto insurance reform passed after years of deadlocked efforts, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer capped the achievement by signing the bill Thursday on the state's largest stage at the moment -- the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference.
The signing took place shortly before 11 a.m. on the Grand Hotel porch. WDIV reported earlier this morning:
Whitmer will be joined by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich and House Democratic Leader Christine Greig.
...Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who filed a lawsuit last year asking that the 1973 no-fault law be declared unconstitutional for failing to provide fair and equitable insurance rates, said the bipartisan agreement is "outstanding" and "will cut rates for Michigan drivers significantly."
The compromise came the same week that billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert took initial steps toward launching a ballot drive as a "failsafe" in case the Legislature and governor did not enact legislation. The move would have enabled GOP lawmakers to overhaul the insurance law without having to worry about a gubernatorial veto.
It's a big win for the governor and the legislature. Next comes the fight over road funding, but a significant break on car insurance may soften the ground for Whitmer's proposed gas-tax increase.
Here's the moment it happened:
BREAKING: Whitmer signs auto insurance reform law at Mackinac Policy Conference https://t.co/llqGe0xnUt #MPC19 pic.twitter.com/Q10z4ULk1f
— Crain's Detroit Business (@crainsdetroit) May 30, 2019
