State Representative Greg Alexander didn’t mince words following Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent State of the State address. In his response, the Republican lawmaker made clear that he believes Michigan is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to spending, regulation, and energy policy — and that the time to course-correct is now.
Alexander’s central argument is one that resonates with a lot of Michigan families who have watched their monthly bills climb while state government has grown larger: Michigan should be putting money back in people’s pockets, not finding new ways to spend it.
Spending Concerns and the Rainy-Day Fund
At the heart of Alexander’s critique is Governor Whitmer’s proposed budget, which he says increases government spending at a time when the state should be tightening its belt. Of particular concern to the representative is the possibility that the budget could draw from Michigan’s rainy-day fund — the state’s financial reserve that is meant to be used during genuine economic downturns, not to cover the costs of expanded programming during otherwise stable times.
Alexander’s position is that additional government programs, however well-intentioned, tend to create long-term cost obligations that ultimately land on the shoulders of taxpayers. Once a program is established and people become dependent on it, scaling it back becomes politically difficult. The smarter approach, he argues, is to be cautious about what gets added in the first place and to prioritize returning money directly to Michigan residents rather than routing it through new bureaucratic structures.
For families in the Thumb region and across rural Michigan who are already stretched thin by rising grocery prices, heating costs, and property taxes, that message tends to land. People feel the weight of government spending most directly when it shows up in their tax bills, and Alexander is betting that a message centered on fiscal restraint will find a willing audience.
Roads, Public Safety, and Schools First
Rather than expanding the scope of what state government does, Alexander is calling for a sharper focus on the things state government is supposed to do well. Roads, public safety, and schools — these are the core services that Michigan residents rely on every day, and in the representative’s view, they should be the priority before any new programs get funded.
The road issue is particularly relevant in Michigan, which has long battled a reputation for having some of the worst roads in the country. Infrastructure investment is one of those rare areas where people across the political spectrum tend to agree that government spending makes sense — because the alternative, poorly maintained roads, costs businesses and families money in vehicle repairs, lost productivity, and increased travel times. Alexander’s argument is that if there’s money to spend, it should go there first.
On public safety and schools, the logic is similar. These are foundational. They affect quality of life, property values, and the ability of communities to attract and retain residents and businesses. Getting them right has to come before experimenting with new initiatives that haven’t been tested and may not deliver results.
Reducing the Regulatory Burden
One of the more detailed parts of Alexander’s response dealt with regulation — specifically, his belief that Michigan’s licensing requirements, healthcare regulations, and housing rules are creating unnecessary barriers to economic growth. He has been a vocal supporter of reducing those barriers, arguing that when it’s easier to open a business, enter a licensed profession, or build housing, more people do it — and that increased activity creates jobs and lowers costs for everyone.
Occupational licensing reform is a topic that has gained traction across the political spectrum in recent years. The argument is straightforward: when states require lengthy and expensive licensing processes for jobs that don’t pose significant public safety risks, they effectively price people out of those careers and reduce competition in ways that drive up costs for consumers. Michigan has made some progress on this front in recent years, but Alexander believes there is more work to be done.
On housing specifically, the regulatory environment around permitting, zoning, and construction has made it harder and more expensive to build in Michigan, contributing to a shortage of affordable housing that affects communities across the state. Streamlining those processes, the representative argues, would help more homes get built and take pressure off a market that has left many families priced out of homeownership.
Education and the Reading Score Problem
Alexander also took aim at recent education policy changes, raising a pointed concern about third-grade reading scores. The data, in his view, tells a troubling story: despite policy changes and increased attention on early literacy, scores are moving in the wrong direction.
Third-grade reading is widely recognized as one of the most important predictors of long-term academic success. Research consistently shows that students who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are significantly more likely to struggle academically in later years and are at higher risk of dropping out before finishing high school. When scores in that area decline, it’s a signal that something in the approach isn’t working — and Alexander is calling for clearer academic standards and a more honest accounting of what Michigan’s education policies are actually producing.
This is not a small concern. Michigan has invested heavily in education over the years, and if that investment is not translating into improved outcomes for young readers, the conversation about what to do differently is one that parents, teachers, and policymakers all need to be part of.
Energy Policy and Local Control
Finally, Alexander raised concerns about Michigan’s energy policies, with a particular focus on large-scale renewable energy projects and the question of who gets to decide where they go. His position aligns closely with what many Thumb-area residents have been saying at local meetings — that communities should have a meaningful say in whether and how utility-scale solar and wind projects are built in their backyards.
This is a live issue in Huron County, where the Board of Commissioners recently approved a controversial solar zoning amendment that drew sharp public criticism and at least one threat of legal action. Residents at that meeting expressed frustration that state law has increasingly limited what local governments can do to regulate energy development — precisely the kind of top-down approach that Alexander is pushing back against.
Beyond the land-use debate, Alexander emphasized the need for energy that is both reliable and affordable. As Michigan transitions toward renewable sources, ensuring that the grid remains stable and that energy costs don’t spike for families and businesses is a concern that cuts across party lines, especially in rural areas where heating and cooling costs take up a larger share of household budgets.
Alexander’s response to the State of the State is, in many ways, a preview of the debates Michigan lawmakers will be having throughout 2026 as the budget process moves forward and energy and education policy continue to evolve. Whether his priorities gain traction in Lansing remains to be seen, but in communities across the Thumb region, the issues he raised — costs, schools, roads, and local control — are anything but abstract. They are the everyday concerns of families trying to get by in a state that, depending on who you ask, is either moving forward or losing its way.
For more on local issues tied to state policy, read about the Deckerville Community Schools budget challenges and how small districts are coping with funding pressures from Lansing.
For broader context on Michigan’s budget process, the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency provides detailed, nonpartisan analysis of the state’s spending and revenue picture. And for a closer look at Michigan’s occupational licensing reform efforts, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy has tracked the issue extensively over the past several years.
