As the calamitous pandemic year of 2020 finally heads for the exits tonight worldwide, many people are pausing to reflect on the year that it was with the highlights, the low lights, and everything in between. Some are penning letters about it, some are blogging, some simply confiding in friends and family. Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer is among them, and her reflections are shared in a new video released on social media reflecting on the events and accomplishments of 2020. You can watch her video at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZNA_V_UKB8&feature=youtu.be
Throughout 2020 the governor says that she has remained focused on her top priorities:
- Protecting public health
- Creating paths to good jobs and protecting the economy
- Rebuilding Michigan roads
- Ensuring every child can get a great education safely
- Cleaning up our drinking water
- Social justice reform.
2020 in Review
Whitmer says, “As I think about 2020, the phrase annus horribilis comes to mind, which means a horrible year. But it wasn’t all horrible, cause some really good things happened this year and there are sources of inspiration no matter where you look.” She suggests, “As we go into 2021, it is my hope we get our economy back up and humming, we get our kids back in school, and that we put Michigan on the path to real prosperity. I think we are up to it. I know we are up to it. And I’m excited at the prospect of a new year and a new chapter for all of us.”
Throughout 2020, Governor Whitmer says she has guided Michigan through the gravest health crisis the state and the country have faced in over 100 years, saying that “Through swift and decisive leadership,” she has “saved thousands of lives and protected the pocketbooks of hardworking Michiganders.”
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Whitmer says she and her administration have worked around the clock to ensure benefits for Michiganders who have lost work because of the virus. Since March 15th, her administration has paid nearly $27 billion in benefits to nearly 2.3 million workers.
Early on in the pandemic, COVID-19 shined a light on the disparities communities of color face every single day, and Governor Whitmer says she stepped up to create the COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities in April, reminding, “Because of the leadership and hard work of the task force Michigan has successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19 in communities of color, saving countless lives.”
The governor also signed the historic “Clean Slate” legislation to reform Michigan’s criminal expungement laws making it easier for people who have committed certain felonies and misdemeanors to have their record expunged. That legislative effort was spearheaded by Southwest Michigan’s own Pauline Wendzel, State Representative from Watervliet.
Whitmer says, “After the country saw righteous protests demanding we address the inequities in our country,” she and her administration got to work. She signed an Executive Directive declaring racism as a public health crisis and created Michigan’s first Black Advisory Council. To create a government that is more representative of the diversity of the great state of Michigan, the governor created the first ever Equity and Inclusion Officer position in the Executive Office. Her administration also made changes to the commission that sets the standards for law enforcement agencies to ensure more community leaders and the Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights have a seat at the table when making decisions
Whitmer says, “Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we stayed focused on providing paths to good-paying jobs to make our economy stronger and fixing the roads.”
The governor launched the first of it’s kind Futures for Frontliners program that provides a path to opportunity for frontline workers who worked on our behalf during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of right now, more than 100,000 Michiganders have applied. Today is the last day to apply for the program. To apply you can still visit http://www.michigan.gov/frontliners/.
During her State of the State address in January 2020, the governor introduced the $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan Bonding Plan to “fix the damn roads without an increase at the gas pump” and ensure more Michiganders can drive to work safely. In November, the Michigan Department of Transportation completed the I-496 Rebuilding Michigan project creating safer roads for families and frontline workers.
Suggesting that Michigan is defined by the Great Lakes, Governor Whitmer says she continued to protect Michigan’s climate and expand access to clean water throughout the year. Through the MI Healthy Climate Plan, she established goals to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality no later than 2050 and created the Council on Climate Solutions to advise and oversee the implementation of the plan.
The governor also announced the investment of $500 million as part of her MI Clean Water Plan to invest in Michigan’s water systems from source to tap. The plan provides direct investments for communities, helps provide safe, clean water to residents, and will support over 7,500 Michigan jobs.
Yesterday, the governor signed bipartisan Senate Bills 1251 and 1252 creating the Flint Settlement Trust Fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury to address the funding of the $641.2 million settlement in the civil Flint Water cases that was negotiated this fall. Although she says she inherited that situation, she and Attorney General Dana Nessel say they have taken the responsibility to achieve the best possible settlement for the children and families of Flint.
Finally, amidst a global pandemic and country wide economic crisis, the governor says that she worked across the aisle to ensure there were no cuts to the state’s public education system and included a weighted funding formula that provides crucial support to students and districts that need it most, including funding for special education and at-risk students.
