Lansing, MI – State Representative Gina Johnsen (R-Portland) issued the following statement following the State of the State address delivered by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“Tonight, we heard a familiar theme: more government programs, more spending, and more centralized control. What Michigan families are asking for is very different. They want accountability, affordability, and respect for their rights.

“Families are struggling with rising grocery bills, higher utility costs, increasing insurance premiums, and property taxes that continue to climb. This is not the time for new taxes, new fees, or budget maneuvers that drain savings accounts. State government should be tightening its belt, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and returning money to the taxpayers who earned it.

“On education, the Governor spoke about standards and progress. But parents across Michigan have been raising serious concerns about transparency and classroom content. Those concerns were dismissed as political. Now the U.S. Department of Justice has launched investigations into multiple Michigan school districts. That is not partisan. That is a sign that accountability is overdue.

“We must also address the broader pattern of government expansion without measurable results. Taxpayers are asked to fund larger agencies and broader mandates year after year, yet families see little relief. Before Lansing considers taking another dollar from working men and women, it should demonstrate that existing funds are managed responsibly and efficiently.

“There is a clear contrast in vision. We believe in limited government, local control, secure elections, and strong parental rights. We believe in protecting taxpayers from unnecessary burdens. And we believe that freedom and accountability, not bureaucracy, are the foundation of a strong state.

“Michigan families deserve lower costs, stronger schools focused on academics, and a government that respects their values and their paychecks. I will continue fighting to protect both.”