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Gretchen Whitmer: “Every graduate can go to their community college tuition…”

Featuring: Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic | Governor of Michigan

2026 Michigan State of the State

Published February 26, 2026 | Video Starts at 43:26

Every 4 year old can go to pre K for free, saving their parents for 14 grand a year. Every student gets more mental health resources, financial literacy skills and personalized instruction. Every graduate can go to their community college tuition free. And every. Yeah, every Michigander 25 and older can earn an associate's degree or certificate tuition free too. And no child goes hungry in Michigan schools because all 1.4 million public school students get free breakfast and lunch. (43:26–43:32)

CLAIM

Asserts that community college is tuition-free for every graduate.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Gretchen Whitmer

“More people moved into Michigan from other states than out for the first time since the early 90s.”
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“Tariffs have jacked up prices, costing families an average of 1000 bucks a year.”
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“Last year America had its worst manufacturing trade deficit ever, while China clocked their highest trade surplus ever, $1.2 trillion.”
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“Just one in five homes today are sold to first time home buyers. That is an all time low.”
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“The median age of a first time homebuyer is 40. That's a record high.”
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“The average income of first time home buyers is $97,000, also an all time high.”
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“Tariffs have raised the cost of a house by upwards of 17 grand, further exacerbating our housing shortage.”
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“Mental health finally covered equally to physical health by law, making Michigan the first state to get that done.”
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“No child goes hungry in Michigan schools because all 1.4 million public school students get free breakfast and lunch.”
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“We're the first state to ever restart a nuclear power plant.”
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“For the first time in nearly 70 years, Detroit's population grew.”
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“Wages and GDP are up.”
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“Crime and overdose deaths are down.”
2026 Michigan State of the State | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 13:41-13:45
“Pre K school meals and community colleges are all free.”
2026 Michigan State of the State | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 13:44-13:48
“Taxes on retirement tips, overtime and Social Security gone.”
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“We fixed more roads, built more homes and replaced more lead pipes than ever.”
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“Michigan is 44th in fourth grade reading 44th.”
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“Every budget I've introduced, negotiated and signed these last seven years made record investments in education.”
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“In late 2024, I signed science of Reading legislation, a statewide strategy that uses proven methods to teach reading.”
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“Previously, our schools used over 400 different literacy teaching methods. Now we're simplifying that to what we know is most effective.”
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“Soon we'll also screen every student for dyslexia, identifying kids who need extra help and ensuring that they get it.”
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“Earlier this month, I signed the bills to limit phones during class time.”
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“I just released my final executive budget recommendation, which included the largest targeted literacy investment in Michigan history.”
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“The data tells us that students who attend pre K are far more likely to read and do math at or above grade level.”
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“Michigan families have repeatedly broken records for pre K enrollment.”
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“Let's fund free full day pre K for all and set every child up for success.”
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“Our new science of reading law identifies students who need more support.”
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“We've invested more to build housing than any administration in state history.”
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“We set and smashed our goal of adding 75,000 homes a year ahead of schedule. We're at 86,000 now, on track to hit our new target of 115,000.”
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“We closed our housing gap by 44% and our home ownership rate remains higher than the national average at almost 75%.”
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“We helped more than 6,000 Michiganders buy their first homes last year with record setting mortgage and down payment assistance loans.”
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“Michigan is the only state in our region without [a state level affordable housing tax credit].”
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“Last year the majority in Washington D.C. voted to send slash Medicaid and SNAP by a trillion dollars, ripping health care and food away…”
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“Insurers can't charge more for pre existing conditions. Young people can stay on their parents plans until they turn 26.”
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“There are no more surprise medical bills and no caps on annual or lifetime care.”
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“Last year, we wiped out medical debt for 210,000 people.”
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“Federal cuts would put two and a half million Michiganders, a quarter of our population, at risk of losing their coverage.”
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“Our budget protected billions in funding for core Medicaid services.”
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“In 2014, as the minority leader in the Michigan Senate, I worked with Governor Snyder to expand Medicaid under the ACA.”
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“This year 1 million Michigan seniors will no longer pay the retirement tax because we repealed it.”
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“665,000 working families get refunds averaging 3,900 bucks because we increase the working families tax credit by 500%.”
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“We raised the rainy day fund to record highs and enacted seven balanced budgets.”
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