Michigan Democrats are getting their way for the first time in nearly 40 years

[Lasher]

Source: NPR

LANSING, Mich. — In her State of the State address this year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had something no other Democratic governor has had since the early 1980s – a legislature willing to pass her agenda, even if with only a two-seat majority in both chambers.

"We spoke with a clear voice in November," Whitmer said. "We want the ability to raise a family without breaking the bank, strong protections for our fundamental rights to vote and control our own bodies."

And Democrats have wasted no time getting their top priorities to the governor's desk. Within the first two months of the many-months long legislative session, Democrats passed their centerpiece tax plan, a bill to repeal the state's defunct 1931 abortion ban and legislation to create civil rights protections for LGBTQ people.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164040738/michigan-democrats-abortion-guns-labor-right-to-work-whitmer

---

A glimmer of hope.

[multigraincracker]

1. Nessel, Whitmer and Benson.

The 3 women that are leading the way.

[calimary]

2. Excellent! Bright shining lights!

[onetexan]

15. Amazing women!!

[Biophilic]

3. Michigan, which is where I lived until last, gives me hope for Florida.

Things weren’t quite as bad as DeSantis’ Florida, but some awful things went down and went on for many years. We just need a Gretchen to give us someone to rally around. Oh, yes, a Democratic Party that had some teeth and at least some loud and angry voters. We have a ways to go down here, I believe it can be done. The Michigan republicans were very sure of themselves. Now people are starting to see what a Democratic administration can do for them.

[kimbutgar]

4. I could see her as our first woman President someday

And I love how she is taking charge and getting things done in contrast to the hateful policies of the Republican Party legislatures. Nothing they do helps regular people.

[Initech]

5. Excellent! Conservatives have had their way way too long!

Time to tell them where they can shove their evil agenda!

[Takket]

6. i'm a michigan resident......

and i can tell you exactly why these things happened. We revolted against rethug gerrymandering with a ballot initiative to create fair voting districts, and we elected a Dem SoS who guaranteed EASY access to voting. And suddenly a state that was dominated by rethugs is now bright blue thanks to actually being able to vote. I remember Stacey Abrams saying something once along the lines of "Georgia is not a red state, it is a voter suppressed state". if we make it fast, and easy, for people to vote, then elections actually reflect what the people want.

Michigan is the template we should be applying everywhere.

[Auggie]

9. Send your blueprint to Ohio

[onetexan]

16. THIS!!☝️

[FakeNoose]

17. Yes! The same thing happened in Pennsylvania just in time for the 2018 elections

It should be done everywhere and I hope it will happen. Fair voting districts make all the difference.

[RussBLib]

20. a ballot initiative like Michigan's Prop 2 would never fly in Texas

The main problem is the Texas Constitution which allows NO citizen-offered referendums, so any ballot measure has to come out of the Texas Legislature, and we are so gerrymandered and Republican-controlled here that we will never get anything like Prop 2 on the ballot. So Texas is another voter-suppressed state. An INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION?? In Texas? I wish, as do the other several million Democrats in Texas.

[roamer65]

23. Bingo. 💯 the truth.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Whitmer and team are showing how it's done

With Dems fully in control, they are governing without fear or hesitation- as it should be.

If they keep this momentum going, and show Michiganders what effective progressive government looks like, not only will the state turn solid blue, but Whitmer will likely be the front runner for the 2028 Dem nomination.

[tiredtoo]

8. yes and they also passed a bill

Eliminating the right to work (for less) law. Things are indeed looking up in my home state.

[Lasher]

10. Has the right to work repeal gone to the Governor yet?

I couldn't tell from the article I shared.

[tiredtoo]

14. My understanding is the senate bill and the house bill are a bit different

As of tonight I hadn't heard she signed the bill.

[Novara]

11. These legislative successes are brought to you by fair redistricting

Getting rid of gerrymandering means the people 's voice is heard. And guess what? Democrats win.

Democrats get shit done when they are not impeded. The state is controlled by three smart women in the top spots. Women get shit done.

[republianmushroom]

12. good

[MichMan]

13. I wonder if Gov Whitmer will reintroduce her 45 cents a gallon gas tax increase ?

Republicans stopped it her first term in office.

[RandiFan1290]

21. How'd that 'red wave' work out for you?

Here's a wave just for YOU

[MichMan]

22. Didn't you read the OP?

No red wave here, so it worked out just fine for me.

[bluestarone]

18. So happy for all the great Democrats there.

Now if we could just do the same in Florida and Texas!! What a great miracle that would be!!

[Hortensis]

19. Congrats to Michiganers for electing this legislature and governor to serve you.