Posted: May 31, 2024 7:32 AM

MACKINAC ISLAND — With just over six months left in her tenure in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is reflective – but has no intention of becoming a lame duck.

After announcing her intent to retire in November 2023, Stabenow has largely stuck to her routine in the Senate, opting to wait on endorsing a candidate to replace her until the Democratic primary takes place in August. She said more than anything, she's currently focused on shepherding a five-year farm bill through Congress, a process that's become pricklier over the course of Stabenow's 23 years in the Senate.

"As chair of the Agriculture Committee, it's time to do a five-year farm bill," Stabenow told Gongwer News Service in an interview at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference. "It's become much more partisan than in the past, which makes it difficult, but I'm working very hard to get five years."

Stabenow was recognized at the Mackinac Policy Conference Thursday by fellow U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who reminisced about hard-fought battles throughout Stabenow's career that often ended with her victorious, having secured federal funding for a Michigan project. Now, she said, it's harder to find the inroads with her colleagues that used to consistently lead to results.

"Obviously, there's always been partisanship," Stabenow said. "But I've been able to work through that and get things done all the time, really with the philosophy in which you find the one thing that you can work with somebody on and do. That has changed, honestly, because of Donald Trump."

She said something changed in her Republican colleagues in the Senate after Trump's election: things became more tenuous. Deals became harder to make and some Senators' attitudes towards governing shifted. Stabenow attributes it to former President Donald Trump's approach to politics.

"He wants to be rewarded for his chaos; he wants loyalty," she said. "He doesn't like actually getting things done."

When it comes to getting things done, Stabenow has a wish list for her last months in office, but she remains cautious about the chances of success.

"I would love to see us really take on legislation that would reinstate Roe v. Wade and a woman's reproductive freedom, but it's just not going to happen," Stabenow said. "I'd love to see legislation protecting IVF and contraception, and we are we are going to be doing a vote next week on contraception bills to make sure that women can make their own choices."

Having served terms in local government in Ingham County and later in the Legislature before being elected to the U.S. House, Stabenow said she's been pleased with the recent turn Michigan politics have taken under the leadership of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic Legislature.

"I've loved seeing the last two years with what the Democrats have been able to do," she said. "I think it was wonderful to see that only two weeks after the horror at Michigan State they were doing the hearings on gun safety, and then four weeks later, they were passing bills. So, I'm very proud of what they've done."

Despite her party's successes at the state level, Stabenow said she feels many of the same problems that plague the U.S. Senate are causing thorniness in Michigan as well.

"There's always ways to shift things around, but it feels like more people are not rewarded for working together," she said. "It seems like there's more and more election deniers and people who think it's okay to use violence if they don't agree politically, and it's made it much more difficult."

Colleagues praised Stabenow's career-long commitment to securing results through relentless collaboration and cooperation, including, as Duggan recalled, during Detroit's 2013 bankruptcy when the city desperately needed federal assistance. Duggan said when he asked Stabenow to bring $250 million home to Detroit, she was first unconfident that then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) would ever support it, but eventually won his vote after enlisting business leaders like Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert to lobby Republican senators.

"The reason the population (of Detroit) rose for the first time in 60 years was because of what Debbie Stabenow did," Duggan said. "She helped bring the city back a decade faster than we would have, that's the kind of tenacity one of the greatest senators Michigan has ever had."

Stabenow's congressional colleagues agreed with Duggan's assessment.

"Having Debbie as my partner was a godsend," Peters said. "There is nobody who knows how to get things out of other members in the Senate like Debbie Stabenow. She is the most tenacious person that I know when she goes on a cause."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) said her friendship with Stabenow has stood the test of time, jokingly referring to the two as "the Debbie squared caucus."

"Let's just say you don't want to have both Debbies mad at you at the same time," Dingell said.

Posted: May 29, 2024 8:54 PM

MACKINAC ISLAND — Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined state and local leaders in housing and clean energy projects Wednesday to announce new goals for increasing housing inventory and supplying homeowners with subsidies for renewable energy sources that could decrease utility costs.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Amy Hovey and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phil Roos appeared alongside Whitmer and local housing and energy stakeholders in a press conference at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference. At the 2021 conference, Whitmer set a goal of permitting, building, or rehabbing 75,000 additional units in five years – by September 2026 – an amount she increased to 115,000 in the Tuesday announcement.

"This year, we're making the largest housing investment in Michigan's history to build or rehab 115,000 units, driving toward a shared goal," Whitmer said. "At the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference, we set a goal of permitting, building or rehabbing 75,000 units in five years. So, by September of next year, but guess what? We are way ahead of schedule. We already met that goal this month."

Hovey said the earlier-than-expected completion of the 2021 goal can be attributed to the success of various MSHDA programs resulting from the agency's regional housing partnerships, such as the Missing Middle grant program and the MI Neighborhood credit.

"One thing that all of those programs have in common is that they are flexible," Hovey said. "They're easy to access, and they have removed the barriers that have prevented people from entering in building up in the fight to create affordable housing to make sure that every Michigander has a home that they can afford."

The second element of Whitmer's announcement was the influx of federal money headed towards lowering energy costs for Michigan homeowners, with $367 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Energy Rebates and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All programs slated for investment in Michigan. $210.8 million will be directed to Home Energy Rebate Programs, $105.6 million of which is specifically designated for Home Efficiency Rebates, and $105.2 million of which will be allocated for Home Electrification and Appliance rebates.

Roos said the federal dollars will make it easier for homeowners to replace old or inefficient appliances and utilities with newer, more environmentally friendly models without the financial pressure to pay themselves.

"These programs will help at least 28,000 families across the state for the focus on families with the most need," Roos said. "Not only are these big programs for the environment, but they're good for the pocketbook, and they're good for our communities. These programs will allow families to have access to rooftop solar energy efficiency measures and efficient appliances and more without having to pay for their own pockets. It will lessen the burden of paying utility bills for families trying to make ends meet."

EGLE already helps provide community solar projects statewide, but Roos said the new funds will help significantly expand those abilities. EGLE will also assist in the rollout of funds and the community application process.

"They are rolled out through our Energy Services Unit within EGLE," Roos said. "They're going to administer the grants for both home energy rebates and the MI Healthy Solar plan. And there's also some technical assistance that's going to be provided, particularly on the solar, because, you know, you've got communities that are working on this, (who may need help) filling out the application."

Whitmer said that qualifying families could see their bills reduced by an average of 20 percent with the available rebates.

"Making these upgrades is going to save more than 28,000 households a heck of a lot of money and improve the quality of life," Whitmer said. Lower income households can see their bills drop by an average of 20 percent, and they can live in a nicer, more affordable, comfortable space. So just think about what that quality of life means for people."

The dissemination of the federal funding will occur over the course of the next year.

Posted: May 28, 2024 9:55 PM

MACKINAC ISLAND – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Amy Hovey discussed advances made in Michigan's housing shortage and the obstacles that remain persistent in providing accessible housing on Tuesday.

The Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference panel, moderated by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), also included Ann Arbor City Councilmember Linh Song and Communities First, Inc. CEO Glenn Wilson, who discussed community-level improvements that can be made to address housing access issues. Hovey said the current housing crisis is a natural response to a heightened demand coupled with lesser supply.

"We do not have enough housing units for our families," Hovey said. "In basic economics, if you are short on supply and high on demand, the cost increases. So, we really have to help the market."

Duggan cited recent housing improvements made in Detroit as potential models for the rest of the state to consider.

"We just had our announcement that we did a $1 billion in affordable housing projects in the last five years in the city of Detroit," Duggan said. "You will not find any homeless encampments in the city of Detroit because of our aggressiveness."

Song said Ann Arbor has had the unique experience of navigating housing access in a university town where thousands of students rent property in the city, but aren't permanent, taxpaying residents. In the post-pandemic housing shortage, she said the city has gotten creative to help bolster housing construction.

"In the early days of the pandemic, we were hearing from residents who were worried about whether federal relief was coming and if evictions were going to start, so we started looking around as to what we could do, and a lot of it had to do with rezoning," Song said. "So, we have zoned along transit corridors. We got rid of parking minimums. We had to learn really quickly how financing works, and support city staff looking for creative solutions."

Hovey said instances like these are a critical driver of MSHDA's regional housing partnerships and the MI Neighborhood grant program, which allow communities to set their own housing goals and apply for funding to implement them, with the state as a supporter rather than a director of the process.

"I was super impressed with the vision that Mayor Duggan had for housing in his city and following it through with the money, with looking at the systems and approving permits," Hovey said. "Where we see housing recovering most quickly is in communities where there are strong, courageous leadership, leadership that's willing to do the right things, be consistent and steady enough for us to see the impact long term."

As housing continues to hold center stage in discussions about retaining Michigan's population and attracting young professionals to the state, Anthony said cooperation between political parties and organizations will be key to implementing equity-conscious housing policies.

"Guess what, this is not a partisan issue," Anthony said. "This is something that goes across both (aisles). If you don't have a wealthy person in your family, if you don't have someone that's passing down a home, is it going to be very hard for you to get one."

Posted: May 17, 2024 5:02 PM

The Detroit Regional Chamber announced its agenda for this year's Mackinac Policy Conference in a May 8 press conference, which will include a U.S. Senate debate and feature leaders in business, politics and higher education on various panels.

Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah and conference chair Suzanne Shank explained that this year's conference theme, "Bridging the Future Together" was created in hopes of engaging Michigan's leaders in "mutual respect."

"We wanted a theme around collaboration and working together to move Michigan," said Shank, who is CEO and co-founder of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC. "So, our theme is centered on inspiring radical collaboration."

The conference, which takes place May 28 to May 31, will include the first debate between candidates for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. Baruah said that the three highest-polling candidates from either party were invited to participate, and the chamber is confirming attendance in the coming weeks.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun were the three Democratic candidates invited to the debate. On the Republican side, former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers and Justin Amash and businessman Sandy Pensler were invited.

"The format will allow both parties to be onstage at the same time," Baruah said. "We think this is a unique format that really pushes candidates to a broad audience just as opposed to speaking to their base voters. So, it does create a different dynamic, and we're very excited about that."

A new speaker was also announced for the conference: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who will participate in a conversation about her tenure in President Joe Biden's administration.

"We're looking forward to having a one-on-one discussion with her about her extraordinary career and her leadership of the Department of Commerce," Shank said. "And, her leading role in the development of many of the policies in the administration, we think, have been critical to our businesses, including the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act."

The conference will also feature Governor Gretchen Whitmer, legislative leadership from both parties, members of Michigan's congressional delegation, presidents of the state's flagship public universities, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Rocket Companies founder Dan Gilbert as speakers, among others.

Full conference schedules and a speaker's list can be found on the Mackinac Policy Conference website.

Posted: April 3, 2024 11:25 AM

Halfway through Governor Gretchen Whitmer's second term, some left-leaning advocacy groups are beginning to feel the sting of unmet policy goals and deference to business interests from the administration.

Hopes of seeing their priority initiatives included in Whitmer's budget recommendation or mentioned during the State of the State address dashed, groups like the Michigan Environmental Council, Detroit Action and Fund MI Future have begun pressing the administration for action from the outside.

Following the State of the State in January and the budget presentation in February, several left-leaning groups released statements critical of the lack of certain policies in those widely covered events.

Whitmer has acknowledged there is always more work to be done and negotiations to be had. Groups have also said the essential lack of a functional Legislature has made it difficult to get progressive priorities to the governor in 2024, because the House is tied at 54-54 and needs at least one Republican to pass anything.

Carlee Knott, a climate and energy policy coordinator for the MEC, said that it was disappointing to see no funding for climate-conscious housing programs in Whitmer's budget proposal, even if other priorities of the organization were present.

"We always end up wishing that there was more included, and we have our own priorities that we're always looking to include," Knott said.

Fund MI Future issued a statement after the budget presentation earlier this year, praising Whitmer's "winning strategy" of providing resources for schools, families and communities, but criticized tax "giveaways" to large corporations and the state's wealthiest families.

"We just have to go all in and stop pairing these improvements with tax giveaways that benefit wealthy corporations," the statement said. "Imagine how much farther we can go if we invest in our people and make sure the wealthy corporations and rich households pay what they owe in taxes."

Whitmer acknowledged that certain priorities, like a minimum wage increase or consideration of a graduated income tax, didn't make it into this year's budget proposal. She said that while she shares many of those goals that groups on the political left are fighting for, her top concern is getting her budget through the Legislature.

"I'm really proud of the budget that I put on the table," Whitmer said. "Obviously there's always more that we are going to want to work on. Getting this budget done is first and foremost on my list as I think about this this year that's going to be an important electoral year. People are going to want to get into their districts, but I want to get this budget done. And I think we've set the right tone, but there's always negotiation that's going to happen."

The budget proposal isn't the only thing breeding some frustration on the left, though. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) joined a coalition of environmental activists in a Thursday press conference calling for an overhaul of public input processes in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

The congresswoman and activists said the process unfairly benefits corporations and robs residents of the ability to fully understand and comment on polluter projects in their areas.

Donele Wilkins, CEO of the Green Door Initiative, said Whitmer has the ability to make changes within the department to promote environmental justice and protect communities affected by pollution.

"The governor's opportunity is to utilize her administrative powers," Wilkins said. "At her level, she has the ability to look at some of the things that the agency is doing, and while some activities may require a legislative way of turning things around, she has the administrative strategies that help us get at what we need to be better informed, and to make some changes."

Whitmer has championed the right climate policies, the coalition said, but needs to make "clear directives" for enforcing them.

Knott said that Whitmer's administration, including department heads, has been supportive of many environmental policy changes that groups like the MEC have floated, but policies that benefit businesses often win out.

"Governor Whitmer is a very business friendly administrator," Knott said. "So, when they come out with things like the budget, or different issues that they're prioritizing, a lot of it is business. So, we just have to be there to remind them that there's other issues too."

Despite the roadblocks, liberal groups aren't jumping ship when it comes to supporting Whitmer anytime soon. Knott said she thinks last year's victories, because of the Democratic trifecta, have slowed down in 2024 due to the outstanding tie in the House. She said she's optimistic that things will start to pick up after special elections to fill the two empty seats in April.

"Progress has been slow so far, but we are kind of just working with the Legislature that we have, and we hope once we get those two seats filled that we'll be able to pass a lot of stuff forward (to Whitmer)," Knott said.

Posted: February 23, 2024 2:00 PM

GRAND RAPIDS – Kent Circuit Judge Joseph Rossi announced Thursday that he intends to make a ruling in the Michigan Republican Party leadership case next week after reviewing evidence and testimony.

The case, Pego v. Karamo (Kent Docket No. 24-00658), pits disputed Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo against a faction of opposing party members led by co-chair Malinda Pego, whose legal team argued that Karamo was ousted as the leader of the party in a January 6 vote and later replaced with former ambassador Pete Hoekstra.

Hoekstra has already been recognized by the Republican National Committee and former president Donald Trump as the rightful leader of the MIGOP, but Karamo's faction maintains that the process of installing him was done fraudulently and deceitfully.

After Rossi rejected a request from Karamo attorney Don Campbell to dismiss the proceedings on Tuesday, hours of witness testimony were heard Wednesday and Thursday regarding interpretation of the party's bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order (See Gongwer Michigan Report, February 21st).

After cross-examination of two witnesses, former MIGOP 8th Congressional District Chair Anne DeLisle and state committeewoman Margaret Kurtzweil, Campbell motioned again to dismiss the case. Rossi heard opposing arguments from both parties on whether to grant the preliminary injunction and said he intends to take the weekend to consider the evidence before heading back to court on Tuesday, February 27.

DeLisle, who had already taken the stand on Tuesday, was cross-examined for two hours Thursday about the January 6 meeting of breakaway committee members, where she was appointed by Pego as secretary pro tempore in the absence of the committee's permanent secretary.

Campbell argued that the MIGOP bylaws mandate that a member cannot serve in two positions at one time, thus vacating DeLisle's spot as 8th District chair when she took on the secretary pro tem position. DeLisle remained firm in her interpretation of the bylaws as allowing a member to serve as temporary secretary without vacating a previous position.

Kurtzweil, who is also a South Lyon City Council member, testified regarding financial contributions to the party made by members who signed a petition calling for a vote to remove Karamo as chair in December 2023. Some members who signed had yet to pay the $50 dues that allowed them voting privileges on the committee, which Campbell argued invalidated the petition to remove Karamo.

Pego's attorney, Jonathan Lauderbach of Warner Norcross + Judd, made the case that all the members who signed the petition paid their dues by the end of 2023, making their signatures valid when the petition was submitted before the meeting on January 6. One signatory did not submit his payment for dues until December 31, but had signed the petition at the beginning of the same month.

"The petitions weren't submitted until January, and (the last signatory to pay his dues) was in good standing when the petition was submitted for the removal of Chair Karamo on the 6th," Lauderbach said.

Kurtzweil, who supports Hoekstra, said that she will not be contributing financially to the party until the matter of the chair is resolved, citing a federal statute that prohibits people from falsely acting on behalf of a party to solicit political donations.

"I will not raise money from Michigan Republican Party until this dispute is resolved because the criminal consequences are way too severe," Kurtzweil said.

Several supporters of Karamo in the audience were visibly and verbally approving of Campell's tactics and showed disappointment and disbelief at comments made by Kurtzweil and DeLisle.

Rossi said he may rule from the bench on February 27, as he did on Tuesday when rejecting Campbell's request to dismiss, given the time-sensitive manner of the dispute. Both parties were given until 9 a.m. Friday to submit any final proofs for evidence consideration.

If Rossi does rule next Tuesday, the case will be resolved just days before two opposing Republican caucuses are set to take place in Detroit and Grand Rapids on March 2. Lauderbach said that if the party does not have a singular leader to unite it in time, Michigan could potentially lose delegates at the Republican National Convention this summer.

Even if a party chairperson is neatly affirmed by the court next week, it's hard to say how long it could take for internal rifts to mend between Karamo and Hoekstra supporters.

When asked by Campbell which convention she plans to be at on March 2 regardless of Rossi's ruling, Kurtzweil was definitive.

"I'll be at the (Hoekstra-chaired) Amway in Grand Rapids," she said.