Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lays out economic priorities for Michigan ahead of presidential inauguration

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mapped out her administration's economic priorities during an address Wednesday.

Watch the address above.

Speaking from Detroit during the "Road Ahead Address," she discussed her bipartisan goals, with a focus on fixing roads and supporting the auto industry.

While talking with the Associated Press ahead of Wednesday's address, Whitmer said she wants to work with President-elect Donald Trump and plans to reach out to him in the coming weeks. She previously has said she hopes to find common ground with the incoming president.

She also discussed Trump's proposed tariffs, which she will say she does not outright oppose, during her speech. 

Big picture view:

Whitmer named roads, school, and safety as the three issues that resources should be directed toward the most. 

"We need a sustainable long term solution so we can fix the damn roads using the right mix and materials," she said Wednesday morning.

With a Republican majority in the Michigan State House, finding solutions will require compromise. 

"We need roads that are safe to help us attract people to our state too. They can’t be a punchline," she said. "As anyone who drives in Michigan will tell you, we have come a long way and you’re welcome for all those orange barrels by the way."

She also touched on tariffs, treading lightly on the issue that the incoming Trump administration plans to lean heavily on. Whitmer said she is not opposed to them, but argued they cannot be used as a one-size fits all solution.

"We certainly shouldn'ty use themto punish our closest trading partners," she added.

The backstory:

Whitmer and Trump had a dicey relationship during Trump's first stint in the White House, when they clashed over the handling of the Covid pandemic in 2020. 

At one point, the then-president went after Whitmer on Twitter, while Whitmer later called him "the biggest threat to the American people" for his handling of the virus.

Four years later, both leaders are expected to cross paths again. With issues like electric vehicles and trade a top concern in Michigan, the state will likely be in the spotlight in the near future.

What's next:

Despite their differences, Whitmer declined to join a Democratic governors resistance group against Trump, and she says her focus will be on Michigan and having a fresh start with the incoming president.

Related

Whitmer says she's not part of Democrat governor resistance group against Trump

Democrat governors have refused to endorse the use of their state police to deport migrants. When the governor was asked that, Whitmer never answered the question.

"My job is to work with him, and I am going to do everything I can, to find common ground," Whitmer told FOX 2 earlier this month. "I understand there will be areas where we won't be able to find common ground, but I'm hopeful that there are many where we can."

The Source: Information from this story was provided by a press release from the governor's office and previous FOX 2 stories. The Associated Press also contributed to this story. 

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