Last week, Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan compromises on sick leave and wage policies.
The legislative compromises were the result of months of back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, with controversial policies being amended before they went into effect on Friday, Feb. 21.
While enough Democrats supported the amended legislation, it passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate, but others saw the compromise as a betrayal.
“People in Michigan have been waiting six years for a raise and paid sick leave,” said Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City. “The bills … fail to deliver for the working class.”
Wegela also stated that change is required in the Democratic Party.
“We need people in office who represent the working class.” “That isn’t even close to the standard given the current state of the Democratic Party,” he said.
However, Whitmer’s office praised the bill as a “commonsense solution.”
“Michigan workers deserve fair wages and benefits so they can pay the bills and take care of their family, and small businesses need our support to keep creating good jobs in Michigan,” according to Whitmer in a press release. “I’m proud to sign these two bipartisan bills into law that will raise wages, ensure workers can take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, and continue growing our economy.”
Whitmer, who has served two consecutive terms as governor but will be term-limited in 2026, is a national party favorite. Her name has also been mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028.
Patriot Millionaires, a nonpartisan organization, stated that Whitmer’s decision to sign the bills disqualified her from the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
“An hour spent volunteering for her will be wasted. “A dollar donated to her political future may as well be set on fire,” said Erica Payne, Patriotic Millionaires’ founder and president. “Make no mistake: if Gretchen Whitmer runs for president after what she did today, she will lose.”
Following the approval of the compromises, One Fair Wage, a national organization representing restaurant and service workers, announced that it will begin collecting signatures for a statewide referendum.
The referendum would restore the minimum wage increases to their original amounts and “reinstate our wage.” It must receive more than 200,000 signatures to be approved, and it will then appear on the November ballot for Michigan voters to consider.
