Whitmer touches on lower costs for insulin and electric vehicles during SOTS

(LANSING, Mich.) Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her fourth State of the State of the address Wednesday night. 

The speech was remote because of COVID-19. 

Whitmer touched on several topics during the speech ranging from fixing the roads, infrastructure, education, inflation, abortion, and lowering costs for insulin and electric vehicles. 

She also touched on the challenges she's faced as governor such as the pandemic, the historic flooding in Midland County, the plot to kidnap and murder her, and the recession. 

"I show up for every Michigan family," said Whitmer. "I want to keep delivering on the kitchen-table issues."

Whitmer says she will be introducing a school aid budget that will have the largest increase in funding for education in more than 20 years. 

She says she wants part of that budget to include resources for mental health.

The governor also discussed lowering the costs for insulin.

"In the Michigan Legislature, there have been bipartisan bills introduced to cap the cost of insulin at $50 bucks a month," said Whitmer. "We all agree that insulin costs too much, and I know we can work together to hold drug companies accountable, lower costs, and save lives. Let’s get that done too."

Another area where Whitmer says she is committed to lowering costs: electric vehicles. 

"I am proposing a combined $2,500 electric vehicle rebate for families—$2,000 for the car and $500 for in-home charging equipment," said Whitmer. "This will build on the $7,500 federal electric vehicle credit. If we get this done, we can lower the cost of electric vehicles by nearly $10,000. We can make it easier for Michiganders to go electric."

Whitmer also highlighted what she did for women in 2021, which included eliminating the tax on menstrual products. 

"When it comes to delivering for women, I will keep finding ways to lower their costs," said Whitmer. "And I’ll veto any legislation that would take away their right to choose."

Whitmer says the state will be receiving billions to help with infrastructure improvements. 

That money will come from the bipartisan federal infrastructure plan.