Michigan Democrats’ agenda: abortion, unions, LGBTQ rights. and more

Michigan Democrats shocked the nation in November when they won control of both chambers of the state legislature for the first time in nearly 40 years. Now that the legislative session has begun, they are moving quickly and aggressively on issues ranging from abortion to strengthening unions.

By doing so, he is laying the groundwork for maintaining a soft majority in 2024, when Michigan will become a national battleground. The GOP has long dominated state government, controlling 57 of the 98 partisan legislative chambers in the US. Democrats won several key states in 2022, including Pennsylvania and Michigan. If Michigan Democrats can repeat their success in 2024, they will make a strong case for national Democratic investment in state legislative contests.

Now, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic legislature appear to be on the same page as they begin work on the agenda laid out in their new state of the nation address. Binding Michigan Democrats together is a shared excitement at the prospect of making proposals that previously would not have been entertained for a hearing in committee, let alone a vote.

“There’s a lot of Democratic energy pent-up to be able to get it through without a hitch,” said Democratic state Sen. Christian McDonald Rivet, who won the tossup race last year.

Although Whitmer and Democratic lawmakers have signaled a willingness to work with Republicans, they haven’t seemed too concerned about making overtures to the other side so far. Some lawmakers who won tough races last year said they think acting on a bipartisan basis could be important to retaining a majority in 2024. But others say it’s about producing results, with or without Republicans, and making sure they have a record they can run. next year is more important.

“I say this as a person in the marginal swing seat: go bold, show up for people, put in the work, and I believe that voters will appreciate and reward that,” said Democratic state Rep. Betsy Coffia.

Michigan Democrats have been bold out of the gate

In the first week since the start of the legislative session, Democrats have made progress on several priorities. In the next two years, he hopes to have abortion rights, expand LGBTQ rights, implement stricter gun safety measures, take aggressive climate action, make preschool universally free, and reverse policies like “right to work” laws that hurt union membership and were previously banned. implemented by the Michigan GOP.

They have the numbers to go with it, with a 20-18 majority in the state senate and a 56-54 majority in the state house — as long as the caucus stays united, and that’s what’s happening now. At the moment, the biggest question seems to be when any new law will take effect. For the bill to be effective immediately, it needs at least a two-thirds majority of each chamber to approve it, which requires at least Republican support. Otherwise, the bill would only take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

There may be an opportunity for bipartisan action. Whitmer signed about 1,000 bills during his first term when the GOP controlled the legislature, although he vetoed more bills than any Michigan governor since 1953.

Economics may be one area for compromise. So far, Democrats have reached an agreement with the governor on an economic package that includes an “inflation relief check” of $180 for taxpayers, repealing the state’s 4.25 percent tax on retirement income, and the expansion of the State Income Tax Credit, allowing. about 700,000 low-income workers to claim a state tax credit of 30 percent of the federal amount starting this year, from 6 percent.

There is broad support for elements of the proposal as the country has a $9 billion budget surplus. But when some Republicans have supported repealing the retirement income tax and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, they have expressed concern about issuing relief checks in lieu of a potential cut to the state’s personal income tax and came out against the Democrats’ proposal there.

Democrats are preparing to go it alone on abortion access, however. He has introduced a bill to repeal the country’s very strict 1931 abortion ban, which made no exceptions for rape or incest. Republicans have sought to enforce the ban after the US Supreme Court overturned it Roe v. Wade last year and went to court to defend it. But after Michiganders approved a ballot measure in November that codified abortion rights in the state constitution, the law was effectively dead. The Democrats’ bill would deal the final blow to getting it off the books.

He also introduced a bill that would have repealed the 1931 ban on contraception and the abortion pill. Although Republicans have not signaled that they want to implement the ban, Democrats are trying to rule out the possibility.

Codifying the decision of the Michigan Supreme Court in 2022, Democrats have introduced a bill that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. At least 21 other states and Washington, DC have similar laws.

He is also seeking legislation to protect poll workers and fight election misinformation and reinstate the requirement that state construction contractors pay union wages and benefits after the GOP repealed it in 2018.

Guns and unions could test the unity of Michigan Democrats

The upcoming battle over gun safety measures and the repeal of state “right to work” laws, which allow workers to get union benefits without paying union dues, may be the toughest challenge for Democrats, said Bill Ballenger, a Michigan-based political commentator. and former Republican state legislator.

Whitmer called on the legislature to implement what he called “common sense” gun reforms, including universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, safe storage laws, and red flag laws, aimed at temporarily deterring people who are a danger to themselves. or other people. from having a firearm.

Michiganders have shown overwhelming support for many of these policies in public opinion polls. A majority of Michiganders went further than Whitmer proposed, supporting assault weapons bans, gun magazine size limits, and banning guns in schools. But some Democrats who won a tight contest last year appear reluctant to go too far in a state where nearly 40 percent of residents own guns.

“If Democrats try to do more on gun control and seem draconian, some of these legislators may take away their cause,” Ballenger said.

Republicans and business groups in Michigan have also campaigned against Democrats’ goal of repealing the state’s “right-to-work” law, arguing with little evidence it would stifle economic development and make it harder for Michigan to compete for business investment.

Signed in 2012 by Republican governor Rick Snyder amid protests in the nation’s capital, the law exempts workers from union dues even if they are covered by union contracts, which Democrats say has reduced union membership and reduced wages and benefits.

It is not clear whether the GOP campaign has been afraid of the death of any member of the Democratic caucus yet, but they can not pay more than one defection in the state house, and can bring up internal divisions in the party, said Ballenger.

But overwhelmingly, the vibe in the caucus is hopeful for the first time in a long time. Coffia noted that there hasn’t been a Democratic trifecta in Michigan since he was 5 years old and that’s why there’s “a lot of damage done that needs to be undone.” McDonald Rivet said that, since the session began, his fellow Democrats have been constantly putting in requests for the bill and going around the caucus room asking for cosigners to get it done quickly.

“I think that excitement really brings us all together. We’re all committed to making sure we all continue to work well together,” said Democratic state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, who won the tossup race last year.

Can Michigan Democrats hold a majority?

It’s still early in the legislative session, but the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the Democratic Party’s fundraising arm dedicated to state legislative races, and other outside funders have identified maintaining a Democratic majority in the Michigan legislature as a top priority heading into 2024. .

There are different philosophies on how to achieve it. Whitmer and many Democrats seem to feel that this is the moment to be bold and waste no time in achieving accomplishments — and so far that means abandoning bipartisan delusions.

During his state of the nation address, Whitmer said he hopes to work with Republicans, including on a universal preschool plan. But state Senate GOP leader Aric Nesbitt dismissed those comments as lip service in a video response, and so far, that assessment has been accurate. Practically all of the legislative progress that Democrats can boast of so far has been accomplished with a majority.

“When we got right down to it, Whitmer wasn’t looking for bipartisan support,” Ballenger said. “Whether this backfires and the few Democrats who won in marginally swing districts can withstand the blowback in 2024 remains to be seen.”

Some Democrats, though pleased with the progress that has been made so far, are advising caution.

“We want to move thoughtfully and not just throw everything on the wall,” Klinefelt said. “I think we’re all on the same page with a few years here to get some things done. Let’s not try to rush into everything. Let’s take our time and make sure we do it right.

McDonald Rivet also urged his colleagues to stop playing political games and try to cross the aisle if they want to stay in power. He acknowledged that he can’t do much about the state budget or right-to-work, but said he has worked with fellow Republicans to help flood-affected communities and bring stores to the desert.

“My voters don’t care who is in the majority. What they care about is whether they have a high salary or not, whether we are working on childcare issues, whether the school is strong or not,” he said.