|
 Dear Friend,
In my State of the State Address, I set new goals to make government work better for Michiganders and to continue delivering results for Michigan taxpayers.
Since I took office, we have taken action to cut red tape, streamline processes, and make state government more effective, efficient, and responsive for Michiganders. But there is still more to do so we can build stuff faster, create jobs, and improve results for students and parents.
In my State of the State Address, I highlighted my plans to make government deliver better results for Michiganders. Here’s what I said.
Sincerely,
|
|
 Permitting & Licensing
Inefficient permitting and licensing slows down construction and leads to fewer jobs and higher prices. That’s why I called for bipartisan collaboration on permitting and licensing including eliminating duplicative exams, honoring out-of-state trade licensing, giving entrepreneurs more flexibility, and more.
- “We all want to make it easier and faster and cheaper for you to keep doing what you do best. It’s why I directed the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA, to review all of Michigan’s regulations and find redundant rules. They proposed: eliminating duplicative exams, honoring trade licenses, giving entrepreneurs more flexibility, and streamlining reporting requirements... This year, let’s make it easier for people to get and keep a good job, not harder.”
- “There’s a huge opportunity here for bipartisanship because we all agree that things shouldn’t take so damn long... This year, let’s simplify permitting to get things built on time and on budget.”
Academic Outcomes
We have made historic investments in education, but we must do more to improve academic outcomes. I highlighted budget investments to tackle literacy and increase transparency so parents can see how their schools are performing.
-
“My education budget this year centered on the SMART Plan, or Students, Metrics, And Results with Transparency. I proposed targeting investments into schools where most kids are falling behind, changes to get funding into classrooms faster, without bureaucracy, and more transparency to notify parents about performance. This year, let’s pass a SMART education budget and get our kids on track for the bright futures they all deserve.”
Phones
Phones are negatively impacting mental health, physical safety, and academic performance. I called for bipartisan collaboration to limit phones in classrooms.
- “Phones have completely changed our children’s lives. 95% have access to a smartphone and half say they’re online 'almost constantly.'”
- “We’ve seen encouraging data about how commonsense restrictions on phone use during class lead to more learning and less bullying. Kids listen, raise their hands, and make more friends. Three-quarters say they feel happy or peaceful without their phone. That’s what school should be about.”
Vapes
Almost 14% of high schoolers use vapes. I proposed closing a longstanding loophole and taxing vapes similar to how we tax cigarettes.
- “32 states—red and blue—already do the same, including all of our neighbors. I’m grateful to Senator Sam Singh who started work on this last year. In 2025, let’s get it done to protect our kids.”
|
|
|
|
