(The Center Square) – At the end of last week, Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan compromises on sick leave and wage policies.
The legislative compromises were the results of months of back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, eventually amending controversial policies that were set to take effect on Friday, Feb. 21.
While enough Democrats supported the amended legislation that it was able to pass the Democrat-held state Senate, others saw the compromise as a betrayal.
“The people of Michigan have been waiting six years for a raise and to earn paid sick leave,” said Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City. “The bills … fail to deliver for the working class.”
Wegela added that change is needed in the Democratic Party.
“We need people in office to represent the working class. That isn’t even close to the standard with the current state of the Democratic Party,” he said.
Yet, Whitmer’s office applauded 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,” said 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, serving back-to-back terms as governor but will term-out in 2026, is a political favorite of the national party. Her name has also been thrown around as a potential 2028 Democratic candidate for president.
Patriot Millionaires, a nonpartisan organization, said Whitmer’s decision to sign the bills “disqualified herself from the Democratic Party’s nomination for presidency.”
“An hour spent volunteering for her will be an hour wasted. A dollar donated to her political future might as well be set on fire,” said Erica Payne, founder and president of Patriotic Millionaires. “Make no mistake: if Gretchen Whitmer runs for president after what she did today, she will lose.”
Following the passage of the compromises, One Fair Wage, a national group representing restaurant workers and service employees, announced it will begin the process of collecting signatures for a statewide referendum.
The referendum would return the minimum wage increases to the original amounts proposed and “reinstate our wage.” It must have over 200,000 signatures to be approved, which would then place it on the ballot in November for Michigan voters to consider.
