Michigan Democrats Deliver Lame-Duck Disappointment

[Celerity]

The first Democratic trifecta in 40 years is ending with internal dissent, stalled legislation, and up to $10 billion in corporate subsidies.

https://prospect.org/power/2024-12-03-michigan-democrats-deliver-lame-duck-disappointment/

Two states lost Democratic trifectas in the 2024 elections. Minnesota has not convened a special session to take advantage of the final moments of Democratic control, though lawmakers did use their thin majorities throughout 2023 and 2024 to make major policy advances. By contrast, Michigan is holding a year-end legislative session, which resumes today. But so far, Democrats have used it primarily to hand over large subsidies to some of the biggest companies in America: Google and Microsoft, Ford and General Motors, and more.

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Corporate giveaways that have passed or are expected to in the lame-duck session could push Michigan’s subsidy bill for 2023-2024 as high as $10 billion, around $1,000 for every resident, during the first total Democratic control of government since 1984. “It’s closer to Reaganomics than any left-leaning policy,” said Sean McBrearty, state director for Clean Water Action Michigan. Meanwhile, bills dealing with housing, criminal justice reform, environmental health, and other priorities have been delayed, and could run out of time.

Michigan activists have been joined in their frustration with the Democratic leadership by rank-and-file lawmakers. “It’s mind-blowing,” said Rep. Dylan Wegela, who represents part of Wayne County outside of Detroit. Wegela cited a proposed $250 million corporate subsidy to redevelop GM’s iconic Renaissance Center headquarters in Detroit, something even Republican Speaker-elect Matt Hall has criticized. “He said we should use that money for public infrastructure,” Wegela said. “I thought, that’s something Democrats should be saying!”

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Wegela was recently censored by his own caucus leadership, blocked from sending portions of a constituent letter that was critical of DTE Energy, the state’s largest utility. “Instead of the government holding DTE accountable, your rates rise,” Wegela intended to say in the constituent letter. “You feel it when infrastructure projects take too long or needs are neglected because instead money has been given as tax breaks and cash payments to multibillion-dollar corporations.” Betsy Coffia, a progressive Democrat in the rural Upper Great Lakes region who won re-election this year by more votes than in 2022, has also been among the openly critical. “Red team or Blue team, Big Corps run Michigan,” Coffia posted on X. “I said what I said.”

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