Gretchen Whitmer in 2018 MI Governor's race
On Abortion:
End 24-hour waiting period; fund Planned Parenthood
Q: Abortion: Ban or legal? Support Michigan's 1931 pre-Roe law that criminalizes abortion?Bill Schuette (R): Ban, except for incest, rape, & life of the mother. Enforce state prohibitions.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Legal. End 24-hour waiting period &
pre-Roe ban, protect in state law.
Q: Contraception: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally? Stance on related family planning funding?
Schuette: Yes. Views as attack on religious liberty.
Whitmer: No. "We've seen attack after attack" on reproductive healthcare. Require insurance companies to cover contraceptives. Restore low-income family planning funds.
Q: Allow Planned Parenthood public funds for non-abortion health care?
Schuette: No. Joined lawsuit to prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving funding.
Whitmer): Yes. Restore funding so can provide screenings and checkups, contraception, and maternity care.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Civil Rights:
2013: repeal Michigan's same-sex marriage ban
Q: Support gay marriage?Bill Schuette (R): No. Defended voter-enacted marriage ban as "a simple recognition that biology matters." But will respect Supreme Court decision allowing it.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Introduced 2013 bill to repeal Michigan's same-sex marriage ban, two years before Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Crime:
Prioritize rehabilitation efforts for first-time offenders
Q: Prosecute all 17-year-olds as adults & house with adult criminals?Bill Schuette (R): Yes.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Unknown. Prioritize rehabilitation efforts for first-time offenders.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Drugs:
Supports marijuana legalization for adult recreational use
Q: Marijuana: Support or oppose MI legalization initiative, Proposal 1?Bill Schuette (R): Concerned legalization will increase youth access, but will respect voters' will. Led campaign against medical marijuana in 2008 but now supports with proper
controls.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Supports legalization for adult recreational use & expungement & exoneration of cannabis-related criminal histories. Endorsed 2008 marijuana initiative.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
Opposes vouchers: Stop the dismantling of public education
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education? Bill Schuette (R): No statements found on overall funding. Focus on literacy. "Grade schools on an A-F scale, giving schools performance-based grants as incentives."
Gretchen Whitmer (D):
Yes. Expand full-day universal pre-K. More resources for hard-to-educate children. Ensure School Aid Fund money goes to K-12 education, close tax loopholes that erode funding.
Q: Support vouchers to send children to private schools with public money. Expand charter schools?
Bill Schuette (R): Yes.
Use vouchers to send children to any participating school (public, private, religious). Expand charters.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): No. Opposes vouchers. Stronger oversight of charters. "Stop the dismantling of public education."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
2 years of debt-free post-secondary education
Q: Increase state funding for higher education?Bill Schuette (R): Unclear. Support more trade & vocational offerings. The proposed tax cut would likely reduce general fund, so may risk higher education funding.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Apportion $100 million to give qualifying students 2 years of debt-free post-secondary education, whether in vocational schools or colleges.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Oppose withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord
Q: Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit creation of greenhouse gases? Participate in U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to climate change action?Bill Schuette (R): No. Joined letter arguing that science wasn't settled,
so Exxon wasn't lying about climate change. Opposed "burdensome" EPA regulations and Obama Clean Power Plan.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes.
Opposed Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord. Called on Gov Snyder to join U.S. Climate Alliance. Create state Office of Climate Change.
Q: Government support for renewable energy?
Bill Schuette (R): No. Opposed 2012 initiative to require 25% of electricity production from renewables by 2025.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Strong support for renewables.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Free Trade:
Renegotiate trade deals, but no tariffs on China
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel and other products?Bill Schuette (R): Yes. Believes Trump has his own "aggressive style" as he works to rebalance trade relationships. "In the end, I think it will be a good deal."
Gretchen Whitmer (D): No. Renegotiate trade deals but fears longlasting negative consequences from new tariffs & chaos caused by Trump's "disorderly rollout."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Government Reform:
Opposes gerrymandering; opposes voter ID
Q: Support Michigan's redistricting ballot initiative 2 to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?Bill Schuette (R): Opposes initiative. Asked MI Supreme Court to reject for creating "a fourth branch of government."
Gretchen Whitmer (D):
Yes. "Gerrymandering continues to disenfranchise voters in Michigan." Don't let partisan legislators draw political boundaries.
Q: Voting Rights: Support stricter or broader voting and registration rules?
Bill Schuette (R): Stricter. Supported end to straight-ticket voting.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Opposes strict voter ID laws, supports straight-ticket, automatic registration, letting anyone vote absentee.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Government Reform:
Disclose political donors; reverse Citizens United
Q: Require political ads to disclose largest funders? Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?Bill Schuette (R): Supports candidates releasing tax returns. Backed Americans for Prosperity
not disclosing donors for their political ads.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): As of 2004 supported disclosure of ad sponsors. Reverse "Citizens United on steroids legislation" that lets Super PACS raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in Michigan."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Gun Control:
Universal background checks; ban assault-style weapons
Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?Bill Schuette (R): No. Repeal existing state restrictions. Challenged restrictions on semi-automatic weapons. NRA 100% rating.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Universal background checks on gun purchases and ban assault-style weapons. NRA 7% rating.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Health Care:
No work requirements for Medicaid; expand it instead
Q: Support or Repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Accept Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants? Require people to work to receive Medicaid?Bill Schuette (R): Repeal ACA. Replace with private insurance. Calls work requirements "the
welfare reform of the 21st century."
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Supports ACA. Held "Save Healthcare" rallies and led state Senate negotiations for Medicaid expansion. Opposes work requirements, which remove coverage "when we should be expanding."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Immigration:
Protect DREAMers from deportation; offer path to citizenship
Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA) recipients who arrived illegally as children, to achieve legal status under certain conditions?Bill Schuette (R): Declined to comment during campaign, but joined 2016 lawsuit to block DACA expansion.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Supports clean DREAM Act that protects Dreamers from deportation & offers a path to citizenship.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Jobs:
Repeal "right-ro-work" law (support union organizing)
Q: Do you support the right-to-work law, preventing unions mandating dues for workers they represent?
Bill Schuette (R): Yes. A "great victory." "I was the right-to-work Attorney General."
Gretchen Whitmer (D): No. Repeal right-to-work law.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Jobs:
Increase minimum wage to $15/hour over three years
Q: Raise the minimum wage from the current $7.25/hr?Bill Schuette (R): Unknown. Would exclude workers on small farms. Opposes prevailing wage law & expanded overtime protection.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Increase to $15/hour over three years.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Trump tax cuts help only millionaires & billionaires
Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts? Cut Michigan taxes?Bill Schuette (R): Yes. "I will cut taxes like @POTUS did nationally and make Michigan a growth state." Reduce MI taxes from 4.25% to 3.9%.
Gretchen Whitmer (D):
No. Trump cuts help millionaires & billionaires, not families just trying to get by." Repeal retirement tax. Increase state user fees to pay for infrastructure.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Technology:
Expand broadband with net neutrality
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide all users equal access?Bill Schuette (R): Unknown.
Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Expand broadband. Implement net neutrality through Executive Order.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Technology:
We need $3B per year for inadequate infrastructure
Whitmer said access to clean, safe drinking water and roads and bridges in good condition are priorities. "As governor, I will capitalize the state infrastructure bank and task a permanent state infrastructure advisory council with creating
comprehensive, coordinated planning," she said. "Together, we're going to put thousands of Michiganders to work rebuilding our roads, updating our electrical & heating grids and ensuring that everyone has access to clean water & high-speed internet."
Whitmer said current funding levels for infrastructure are inadequate, and that she would begin to address the $4 billion annual funding gap ("far & away the reason why our roads are so dangerous," she said) identified by the infrastructure commission
by investing an extra $3 billion per year up front.
"Recent plans rely on future legislators to pull funding from the state's general fund to make less than adequate investments in infrastructure," she said. "It's a flawed plan that will not work."
Source: BridgeMI.com on 2018 Michigan gubernatorial race
Mar 6, 2018
On Abortion:
Will stop anti-choice legislation
Whitmer said she would work to stop anti-choice legislation and "continue to protect the investments that we make in our local public health offices-education for young people, access to birth control."
Whitmer hopes Democrats take back the Michigan House but said, "if necessary, I have got the backbone of titanium to hold the line on further attacks eroding women's health care."
Source: Rewire News on 2018 Michigan Governor race
Nov 1, 2017
On Corporations:
Shift tax burden to corporations
On taxation: "Let's be clear, everyone knows that in Michigan right now, we are making the poorest folks pay and we have to stand up to corporations that are demanding these huge tax loopholes and make sure
they're paying their fair share and then make sure we're investing that into things like schools and infrastructure," El-Sayed said.
Source: Mining Journal on 2018 Michigan Governor race
Oct 10, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Most important metric is rising family income
Whitmer says we need to continue on the path toward job creation as well as investments in critical infrastructure and public education. She acknowledges the unemployment rate has fallen--from 14.9% in 2009 to 4.9% in November--but contends
it is not the true measure of success in the state. "I think the most important metric is our family incomes, are they rising," said
Whitmer. "Have they been raised because of the policies that have been put forth in Lansing, and the answer is no.
At the end of the day the most important metric is; does a family in Kalamazoo believe that their paycheck is able to cover the bills that they have."
Source: WWMT-Newschannel-3 on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Jan 24, 2017
On Crime:
Cleaned up County Prosecutor office after a sex scandal
Whitmer served for twelve years in the State House and Senate. Whitmer, who most recently served for six months as Ingham County Prosecutor after the former prosecutor was arrested in a sex scandal, says she cleaned up that office and has big picture
plans for Michigan.Whitmer says she holds state government mostly accountable for a lack of oversight in the Flint water crisis and says that kind of thing would not have happened on her watch.
Source: WWMT-Newschannel-3 on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Jan 24, 2017
On Abortion:
Spoke of being raped in opposing "rape insurance" bill
Legislators were trying to ban private insurance companies from covering abortion care, forcing women to pre-purchase extra insurance. Reproductive-rights advocates called it a "rape insurance" bill. Whitmer lambasted the bill in an address that
included the story of her own rape. "It's something I've hidden for a long time," Whitmer continued. "You need to think of the girls that we're raising and what kind of a state we want to be where you would put your approval on something this extreme."
Source: Slate e-zine on 2018 Michigan Governor race
Jan 5, 2017
On Abortion:
No insurance riders to get an abortion covered
Whitmer served in the House from 2001-2006, and in the Senate from 2006-2014, where she became a frequent voice of opposition to Republican policies.When she told her personal story of being raped more than 20 years ago during a 2013 speech on the
Senate floor to illustrate her opposition to a bill that would require people to buy an additional rider to their insurance to get an abortion covered, Whitmer got national attention and a stronger voice on issues surrounding women's health concerns.
Source: Lansing State Journal on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Jan 3, 2017
On Principles & Values:
A better Michigan is worth fighting for, we can't wait
I'm no stranger to fights. As Ingham County Prosecutor and as Democratic leader in the Senate, I've led a lot of tough ones. Fights to protect workers' rights, fights to level the playing field for everyone, fights to protect kids and to hold government
accountable. The fight was always worth it for what it said to the people we were fighting for. That's why I know we can build a Michigan with opportunities that rival those from our past. We can do better. We deserve better. And we can't wait.
Source: Medium e-zine on 2018 Michigan Governor race
Jan 3, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021