Politics

LANSING, Mich. —  Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after Republicans in Washington, DC allowed health care costs to rise for more than 20 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Michiganders. This failure to extend access to quality, affordable health care comes just months after they voted for huge Medicaid and SNAP cuts that will kick millions more off their coverage and increase hunger across the United States. 

“Today, Republicans in Congress are jacking up the cost of health care, forcing more than 20 million Americans to pay more for worse coverage. They are continuing their pattern of devastating cuts to services that people actually need, as earlier this year they slashed Medicaid and SNAP, allowing our neighbors, family, and friends to be sick, get hurt, or go hungry without help. 

“Right now, Michiganders need real relief, especially as they face rising costs, a challenging job market, and global economic instability. I’ll always be ready to work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems, but too many people in power today are committed to making them worse. Let’s work together to make people’s lives better.” 

press release

Nesbitt lost five of his Republican caucus members on a vote to restore the funding

LANSING, Mich. - Last night, Senate Minority Leader and extreme Republican gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt voted against restoring funding for critical projects across the state that were unilaterally cut last week by House Republicans—and Nesbitt even lost five of his caucus members during the vote.

The projects cut by Republicans include affordable housing, health care, economic development and job-training programs, support for veterans, and mental health services—and even a program that provides wigs for children with cancer. 

“These reckless Republican cuts are disastrous for Michigan families, veterans, and workers and will cause the cost of health care and housing to rise even more right before the holidays. It’s so extreme even five of Aric Nesbitt’s own Republican caucus members voted to stop these disastrous cuts,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “Aric Nesbitt’s support for these cuts to health care, housing, and veterans is just another sign he will always put his extreme far-right agenda ahead of doing the right thing for Michiganders.” 

Last week, Nesbitt cheered on the cuts and said the projects were just “fun money,” while earlier this year, Nesbitt was one of just five Republican senators who voted against the state budget. At a Republican primary debate this fall, Nesbitt couldn’t name one issue he disagrees with Donald Trump on. 

press release