LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered the Democratic rebuttal speech to the State of the Union Tuesday night from East Lansing High School, which is where her two daughters attend.
Rather than talk at length about President Donald Trump’s remarks, Whitmer instead focused her speech around the ways Democrats are taking action on issues in Michigan and elsewhere in the country.
“You can listen to what someone says, but to know the truth, watch what they do,” Whitmer said at the start of her speech.
Whitmer began by covering her new road bonds policy to highlight what actions are being taken by Democrats.
“During my campaign, people told me to fix the damn roads – because blown tires and broken windshields are downright dangerous, and car repairs take money from rent, child care, or groceries,” Whitmer said. “And we – the Democrats – are doing something about it.”
On the subject of health care, Whitmer used her own life experiences to explain her views of health care reform.
“I was holding down a new job, caring for my newborn daughter as well as my mom at the end of her brain cancer battle,” Whitmer said. “I was up all night with a baby and during the day, I had to fight my mom’s insurance company when they wrongly denied her coverage for chemotherapy. It was hard. It exposed the harsh realities of our workplaces, our healthcare system, and our child care system. And it changed me.
I lost my patience for people who play games instead of solve problems. As a state senator, I worked with a Republican governor and legislature to expand healthcare coverage to more than 680,000 Michiganders under the Affordable Care Act.”
Whitmer pointed out several instances of Democrat efforts across the country to expand health care, as well as the health care reform efforts of current presidential candidates.
“Every Democrat running for president has a plan to expand health care for all Americans,” Whitmer said. “They may have different plans, but the goal is the same. It’s pretty simple – Democrats are trying to make your health care better. Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away.”
Whitmer also pointed out examples of children fundraiser efforts to pay for medical treatments, which lead to remarks of jobs with benefits.
“No one should have to crowd source their health care, not in America,” Whitmer said. “But the reality is, not everyone in America has a job with health care and benefits. In fact, many have jobs that don’t even pay enough to cover their monthly expenses.
It doesn’t matter what the president says about the stock market. What matters is that millions of people struggle to get by or don’t have enough money at the end of the month after paying for transportation, student loans, or prescription drugs.”
Whitmer then addressed Trump’s remarks of a strong economy, calling into question who is benefiting the most.
“Wages have stagnated while CEO pay has skyrocketed,” Whitmer said. “So when the president says the economy is strong, my question is strong for whom? Strong for the wealthy who are reaping rewards from tax cuts they don’t need? The American economy needs to be a different kind of strong.”
Whitmer then turned the focus of her speech to the younger generation.
“Democracy takes action, and that’s why I’m so inspired by young people,” Whitmer said. “They respond to mass shootings demanding policies that make schools safer. They react to a world that is literally on fire with fire in their bellies to push leaders to finally take action on climate change. They take on a road filled with potholes with a shovel and some dirt.
It’s what gives me great confidence in the future, and it’s why sometimes it feels like they’re the adults in the room.”
Whitmer maintains that adults have a responsibility to younger generations.
“It’s not their mess to clean up, it’s ours,” Whitmer said. “The choices we make today create their reality tomorrow.”
Whitmer also spoke about her own children and the new generation of incoming voters.
“2020 is a big year, it’s the year my daughter Sherry will graduate from high school,” Whitmer said. “It’s also the year she’ll cast her first ballot, along with millions of young Americans. The two things are connected, because walking across the graduation stage is as important as walking into the voting booth for the first time.
Her future, all our kids’ futures, will be determined not just by their dreams, but by our actions.”
Whitmer concluded her speech by talking about the ongoing presidential impeachment process.
“As we witness the impeachment process in Washington, there are some things each of us, no matter our party, should demand,” Whitmer said. “The truth matters. Facts matter. And no one should be above the law. It’s not what those senators say, tomorrow, it’s about what they do that matters.
Remember – listen to what people say, but watch what they do. It’s time for action. Generations of Americans are counting on us. Let’s not let them down.”
