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Gretchen Whitmer: “We improved our credit rating and will pay off $28 billion…”

Featuring: Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic | Governor of Michigan

LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address

Published February 26, 2026 | Video Starts at 37:19

We raised the rainy day fund to record highs and enacted seven balanced budgets. We're a top 10 state for doing business for the third year in a row. We improved our credit rating and will pay off $28 billion in debt. We sped up permitting and cut lots of red tape. And we're building a strong startup ecosystem. We're making headway. Michigan is also a safer, better place to live. (37:19–37:25)

CLAIM

Asserts that Michigan's credit rating was improved and $28 billion in debt will be paid off.

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.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:30-10:37
“Tariffs have jacked up prices, costing families an average of 1000 bucks a year.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 11:16-11:22
“Last year America had its worst manufacturing trade deficit ever, while China clocked their highest trade surplus ever, $1.2 trillion.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 11:28-11:41
“Just one in five homes today are sold to first time home buyers. That is an all time low.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 22:48-22:56
“The median age of a first time home buyer is 40. That's a record high.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 22:56-23:03
“The average income of first time homebuyers is $97,000, also an all time high.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 23:03-23:12
“Tariffs have raised the cost of a house by upwards of 17 grand.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 24:19-24:24
“Mental health finally covered equally to physical health by law, making Michigan the first state to get that done.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 31:15-31:25
“The day I took office, 1.5 million Michiganders made under $15 an hour. The day I leave, it will be almost zero.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 36:41-36:54
“We're the first state to ever restart a nuclear power plant. And we're going to do it at Palisades.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:38-45:45
“For the first time in nearly 70 years, Detroit's population grew.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:57-46:01
“I am eager to work with you all again on our last balanced bipartisan budget.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 05:04-05:10
“Let's get it done on time. June 30th.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 05:10-05:14
“Wages and GDP are up. Crime and overdose deaths are down.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:12-10:17
“Pre K school meals and community colleges are all free.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:17-10:21
“Taxes on retirement tips, overtime and Social Security gone.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:21-10:26
“We fixed more roads, built more homes and replaced more lead pipes than ever.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:25-10:30
“I'm hopeful that last week's Supreme Court decision will force Congress and the President to work out a more strategic trade policy.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 11:41-11:50
“Michigan is 44th in fourth grade reading.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 14:46-14:50
“Every budget I've introduced, negotiated and signed these last seven years made record investments in education.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 15:54-16:02
“In late 2024, I signed science of Reading legislation, a statewide strategy that uses proven methods to teach reading that includes phonics.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 16:13-16:25
“Previously, our schools used over 400 different literacy teaching methods.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 16:27-16:33
“Soon we'll also screen every student for dyslexia, identifying kids who need extra help and ensuring that they get it.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 16:38-16:47
“I just released my final executive budget recommendation, which included the largest targeted literacy investment in Michigan history.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 18:11-18:20
“The data tells us that students who attend Pre K are far more likely to read and do math at or above grade level.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 19:00-19:09
“So this year, let's fund free full day pre K for all and set every child up for success.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 19:28-19:36
“We've invested more to build housing than any administration in state history.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 24:46-24:51
“We set and smashed our goal of adding 75,000 homes a year ahead of schedule. We're at 86,000 now.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 24:51-24:59
“We closed our housing gap by 44%.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:02-25:05
“Our home ownership rate remains higher than the national average at almost 75%.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:05-25:12
“We helped more than 6,000 Michiganders buy their first homes last year with record setting mortgage and down payment assistance loans.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:19-25:28
“Michigan's the only state in our region without [a state level affordable housing tax credit].”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 26:11-26:15
“Last year, the majority in Washington D.C. voted to slash Medicaid and SNAP by a trillion dollars, ripping health care and food away from…”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 29:15-29:27
“They went home and did nothing and let premiums on the Affordable Care act skyrocket.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 29:26-29:33
“Renew the ACA subsidies. Provide real relief to Michiganders.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 29:36-29:42
“Insurers can't charge more for pre-existing conditions.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 30:55-31:01
“Young people can stay on their parents plans until they turn 26.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 31:00-31:05
“There are no more surprise medical bills and no caps on annual or lifetime care.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 31:10-31:16
“Last year we wiped out medical debt for 210,000 people.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 31:55-32:01
“Federal cuts would put two and a half million Michiganders, a quarter of our population, at risk of losing their coverage.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 33:21-33:30
“Our budget protected billions in funding for core Medicaid services.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 33:40-33:45
“I propose a significant investment to stabilize Medicaid funding.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 34:04-34:09
“In 2014, as the minority Leader in the Michigan Senate, I worked with Governor Snyder to expand Medicaid under the aca.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 34:29-34:37
“1 million Michigan seniors will no longer pay the retirement tax because we repealed it.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 35:31-35:36
“665,000 working families get refunds averaging 3,900 bucks because we increase the working families tax credit by 500%.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 35:49-35:54
“800,000 workers will keep more of their hard earned paychecks because we ended state taxes on tiffs and overtime.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 36:07-36:15
“We raised the rainy day fund to record highs and enacted seven balanced budgets.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:10-37:16
“We're a top 10 state for doing business for the third year in a row.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:15-37:19
“We've replaced 70,000 lead pipes and upgraded water infrastructure statewide.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:54-38:01
“Since I took office, through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed 26,500 lane miles of road and almost 2,000 bridges.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 38:46-38:55
“Every student in every school gets the same resources because we finally closed the funding gap.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 39:26-39:33
“Every 4 year old can go to pre K for free, saving their parents 14 grand a year.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 39:46-39:53
“Every Michigander 25 and older can earn an associate's degree or certificate tuition free too.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 40:06-40:14
“All 1.4 million public school students get free breakfast and lunch.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 40:33-40:40
“Abortion is a constitutional right.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 41:58-42:01
“Women control their own bodies, lives and future in the state of Michigan.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 42:00-42:05
“Black Michiganders can wear their hair natural without discrimination.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 42:18-42:23
“We finally have common sense gun violence prevention laws, background checks, safe storage, extreme risk protection order.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 42:34-42:40
“LGBTQ Michiganders are protected against discrimination in their homes and at work. By law.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 42:48-42:48
“Michigan is open for business. New factories making batteries, cars, ships are opening in Marshall, Lake Orion, Holland Bay City, Calumet…”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 44:07-44:19
“A new fighter mission is coming to Selfridge Air National Guard base in Macomb County.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 44:19-44:24
“We're the first state to restore workers' right to organize for better pay and benefits in 70 years.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:24-45:30
“For the first time in 40 years, we opened a new veterans home.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:54-45:58
“For the first time in over a century, a new bridge connecting Michigan to Canada, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, will open.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 46:00-46:09
“Our state is full of good, honest, hard working people who care deeply about their families and want to make their communities better.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 49:08-49:18
“It's Republicans, Democrats and independents who put politics aside to solve problems.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 49:30-49:37
“Social media platforms that were supposed to bring us together have made us distrust and in some cases despise our fellow Americans.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 50:03-50:12
“Through a destructive pandemic, devastating floods, deep freezes, and deadly shootings, I've seen that tough times don't last, but tough…”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 50:44-50:57
“Because of you, the state of our state is strong.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 52:53-52:57