On Wednesday, Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Governor-Elect Winnie Brinks held a press conference to lay out some of the priorities for their administration. The overall theme was creating a government and state that works for everyone, regardless of party. In light of the blue wave on Tuesday, she believes voters were asking for leaders who will lower their costs, raise wages, and end corruption. In a notable announcement, the Governor-elect stated that once she takes the oath of office, she will voluntarily open the governor’s office to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Currently, the legislature and executive office are both exempt from Michigan’s FOIA laws.
Speaking on priorities, Governor-elect Benson committed to working with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle from day one. Some of her administration’s priorities include:
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- Identify areas for quick relief in the first days of their term.
- Work with experts and leaders to fix what is broken.
- Create well-paying jobs and strengthen the workforce.
- Transform state government to make it efficient and effective.
- Bring affordable costs for healthcare, housing, childcare, and energy.
- Ensuring the rights and safety of every resident.
- A commitment to transparency and ethical leadership.
When asked for more specifics by reporters, she spoke about looking at restructuring the budget process to find new sources of revenue and streamlining how money is spent to reduce costs. Additionally, she proposed looking at ways to restructure the funding formula for public schools and stated that she is looking into potential relief of the state’s gas tax.
Governor-elect Benson also spoke briefly on the transition. She met with Governor Whitmer to discuss the transition between the administrations, and she assured Michigan residents it would be a smooth and professional process. In the coming weeks, more information on policy objectives and further transition details will be released, including what to expect from the first 100 days of the Benson administration.
