ICYMI: The Detroit News Slams Gretchen Whitmer’s Influencer Bribe Program

Last week, a report showed that Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) had spent more than half a million dollars paying social media influencers to hype up the state – effectively working to cover up the colossal failures of Whitmer’s administration. 

This week, Kaitlyn Buss of The Detroit News wrote an editorial blasting the governor’s misplaced priorities, and she did not mince words:

“Paying influencers roughly $500,000 is absurd, and illustrates their broader governing philosophy: Rather than making Michigan more affordable so people naturally choose to live, work and invest here, government increasingly tries to market around the state's shortcomings.”

Buss called for real solutions to Michigan’s woes, like income tax reform:

“Tennessee has no state income tax. Florida has no income tax. Ohio has steadily reduced its income tax and now has one of the lowest rates in the Midwest. Indiana is continuing to lower its flat income tax rate, which is scheduled to reach 2.9% in 2027.

All of those compare favorably with Michigan's 4.25% income tax rate, which rose from 4.05% after Democrats chose not to preserve the temporary reduction that taxpayers received in 2023.”

She ends by setting up the alternate visions for Michigan presented by Democrats and Republicans:

“Democrats have shown they'll continue defending higher taxes and higher spending. Republicans are making the opposite case: that a more competitive tax climate is the foundation for stronger economic growth. Voters deserve a serious debate over which vision offers Michigan the better future.”

You can read the whole piece here.