Opinion | It’s time for lawmakers to put working people first, not last

Right now, tens of thousands of Michigan families are waiting  —  waiting for relief, security, and fairness. That’s because Republican Speaker Matt Hall decided to play king, refusing to send pro-worker bills that improve wages, health care, and retirement benefits for Michigan workers to the governor. He lost that battle in court, and now he has until March 19 to present them for signature. 

House and Senate Democrats have done their job, now it’s time for Speaker Hall and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to do theirs. If they don’t, working families, public servants, and the very people who keep our communities strong will pay the price. And with no plan to fight rising costs at the national level, working Michiganders can’t wait any longer.

Educators, school workers, and public employees shape the future of our state. Rising health care costs continue to place a heavy burden on them and their families. House Bill 6058 returns conversations about how health-care costs are split between workers and employers back to the bargaining table where they belong, making quality healthcare more affordable. Without action, many of our public servants will continue to struggle with costs that eat into their paychecks and force difficult financial decisions.

Public safety professionals — law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and motor carriers — are on the frontlines protecting our communities at great personal risk. House Bills 4665–4667 would ensure that new officers can be recruited and retained, and those serving right now can retire with dignity. They deserve the security these bills provide. Full stop. Lawmakers shouldn’t break any more promises to the people that protect them. 

And without House Bills 4900 and 4901, families struggling with debt will be vulnerable to aggressive collection tactics that take their wages and Earned Income Tax Credit — the very funds that help them stay afloat. Instead of offering a pathway to financial security, lawmakers are trapping people in a cycle of hardship.

These aren’t just policy choices — they define what kind of Michigan we live in. Do we put workers first, or last? Do we honor the promises made to our public safety professionals, or turn our backs? Do we make health care more affordable for the people who educate our kids and keep our communities running, or let them struggle with rising costs?

Gov. Whitmer has always been a champion for Michigan’s working families. We urge her and Speaker Hall to work together and get this done. House and Senate Democrats have done their job, now it’s time for Speaker Hall and Gov. Whitmer to do theirs and put workers first, not last.