The candidates for Michigan's next Governor have spoken.
On Thursday night, the final debate with the Democratic candidates for Michigan's governor's race took place live from Detroit.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Shri Thanedar and Gretchen Whitmer all participated.
The debate lasted one hour and gave the candidates time to answer a variety of questions that Michiganders care about.
The first question was about jobs. Shri Thanedar began the Q & A session stating that he wanted to focus on Michigan and keep jobs in Michigan. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed was next and his focus was to stop focusing on corporations that are taking away jobs from Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer wrapped it up by talking about making degrees affordable and how that would equal the fast track to jobs.
The next question was about taxes. Dr. El-Sayed was up first and said, "The frustration is that government does not deliver value." He says all he sees is tax cuts for big corporations while everyone else gets "nickeled and dimed."
Then Gretchen Whitmer talked about how residents are already paying road taxes with our auto insurance and an education if we hire a tutor and even a water tax for clean water and that is too many hidden taxes. Lastly, Thanedar answered and said he'd like to eliminate state income tax for families making $50,000 or less in Michigan and for corporations to pay their fair share.
Auto tariffs were the next topic of interest and Whitmer had the fast response. She spoke for the Michigan worker stating that any Michigan worker can compete with anyone on the planet. She also said that NAFTA was a "disaster" for Michigan workers. Thanedar said that he wanted to protect jobs and protect industries in Michigan. And El-Sayed said that "Trump's policies will hurt Michigan."
The next topic in the debate was healthcare. Thanedar said that healthcare is not a "privilege but a right." He added that a single-payer healthcare system is what he would suggest for Michigan. (The standard usage of the term "single-payer healthcare" refers to health insurance, as opposed to healthcare delivery, operating as a public service and offered to citizens and legal residents towards providing nearly universal or universal healthcare.) Dr. El-Sayed answered that as a doctor he has been in situations with people who cannot afford healthcare. He recommends a state-level Medicare-for-all-style system. He is proposing Michicare that would cover everybody. And Whitmer said it was important for her focus with healthcare to cover pre-existing conditions.
On the topic of abortion and the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, El-Sayed said he wants to empower women and fight anti-abortion legislation. He wants to raise access for pre and post family planning and protect a women's right to choose. Whitmer was next and shared with us that she is a part of the #MeToo movement and has spoken out about sexual assault. And Thanedar said that he supports women's rights and that "the government has no right to get between a woman and her doctor."
Education was the next topic. Whitmer was first and said that politicians never ask, "How are the children doing?" She said we are failing generations of kids in Michigan and we need "better schools now." She wants to fight for early childhood literacy and debt-free community college.
Thanedar was last and he said he wants to invest in K12 tuition free learning and "make sure that education is available to all." El-Sayed said that "we've got to think differently" and that he supported tuition-free education.
The next question was about how the candidates have been candid about their dislike of President Trump and how they would work with him and his administration if elected. Thanedar was first to answer. He said that he's run businesses and "can work with this President as long as he is fair." He mentioned expanding the highways and new Soo Locks as important. El-Sayed said that he's been an executive in government and believes there's a lot we can do with working with civil servants. He strongly stated that he will never stop standing up against what he's done. Whitmer said that she knows how to cross the aisle to get things done and will work with Trump, but she says "allegiance needs to be to Michigan."
Following the Trump question was a question about civility in politics. El-Sayed was first and promised there wouldn't be a "side show." He said there would be "listening, learning, and reflecting." He said he would be a leader who is for a Michigan about all of us. Whitmer said that everyone's important and that honesty and values are crucial in this role. Thanedar said that civility is not a republican or democratic issue and he would concentrate on fixing the roads.
Which was a nice segue since the next question was about fixing Michigan roads. Whitmer was first and got to lead off by saying, "Fix the damn roads." That saying is a big part of her platform. Next was Shri who said he'd use money from prison reform and the sale of recreational marijuana to pay for the roads. Last, was El-Sayed who started out by mocking Whitmer as he said, "It’s more than fixing our darn roads." He added that it is about fixing politics. And to pay for the road repairs he said bring back corporate jobs to Michigan and legalize marijuana.
Michigan's high Auto insurance rates were the next topic of discussion. Thanedar said that we must reduce the rates and make sure that insurance companies aren't redlining customers. (Redlining means to refuse a loan or insurance, or charge more to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk.) El-Sayed said that he plans to reverse rates and ban redlining, along with stopping fraud and abuse. And Whitmer said that auto insurance can be more expensive than a car. She'd like to work with stakeholders on insurance, also eliminate fraud and redlining.
When asked about Emergency Managers El-Sayed said "It's not all sunshine and lollipops when we talk about emergency management." He wants to undue emergency management and focus on increasing the revenue share that the state shares with local municipalities, empowering them to build out and sustain themselves. Whitmer was next and said that she's seen the consequences of Emergency Management and she's seen communities set up to fail. She would like to undue that law and get back to self-governing. Thanedar said he wants to fix the funding for those communities that have had Emergency Managers. Abdul El-Sayed and Gretchen Whitmer then sparred over the influence of corporate money in politics. El-Sayed accused Whitmer of using "Republican gimmicks" because an allied outside group airing pro-Whitmer ads can use "unlimited corporate money" and has not disclosed its donors. Whitmer countered by saying, "Give me a break Abdul," talking that El-Sayed -- who rejects corporate political action donations -- has received $170,000 in donations from corporate executives, and "you can't be half-pregnant on this one," she said.
The next question was on prison reform. Whitmer was first who said there was no doubt that we need reform. Her stance was to educate kids that there isn't a "school to prison pipeline" and they need a path to good paying jobs. Thanedar said he wants to give people a second chance. He wants to expunge records and provide those returning, non-violent offenders to come back into Michigan's economy and work and serve society. El-Sayed said that the policy for sentencing needs to be looked at, including how habitual offenders get an extended sentence.
Recreational Marijuana was the next topic. Thanedar was first. He said as a scientist that he was for recreational marijuana and he wanted to regulate it like alcohol but there must be laws. El-Sayed said that there are so many questions about what comes next if it's passed. He said we will need to pardon those that have marijuana convictions. And Whitmer said that she would vote yes on recreational marijuana and ensure that the money raised would go into the schools.
The candidates were then asked to tell the viewers about a single problem that they'd like to see disappear if they had a magic wand to make it happen. El-Sayed said poverty. Whitmer said low-paying jobs, and Thanedar said mental illness.
Next, they were asked to give a quick answer on allowing sports betting in Michigan. Whitmer said yes, Thanedar said yes and added to use the revenue on fixing the roads, and El-Sayed said yes, but we would need to create support for folks with gambling dependencies and mental illness.
Then they were asked to each comment on what they thought Governor Snyder has done well. Thanedar answered with leadership and expanding Medicaid. El-Sayed said that he agreed that expanding Medicaid was the best thing. And Whitmer said the expansion of Medicaid and getting budgets done earlier.
At the end of the debate, each candidate gave closing remarks. Gretchen Whitmer went first. She said that she loves the state of Michigan, and added that this was the place people used to come to for opportunities. She closed by saying that Michigan is "dangerously behind in areas where we used to lead." Abdul El-Sayed said that it's not just about the candidates. He said we must stand up for Michigan and embrace our future. He said no more corporate dollars, improve healthcare and reverse rates for auto insurance.
Shri Thanedar was last. He started his closing remarks by thanking everyone for participating in the debate and for watching. He added that he was the only one that can "defeat Bill Schuette." He also said that he's created jobs and he "worries about your job."
