Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's support for paid family, medical leave gets fuzzy

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's public enthusiasm for a statewide paid family leave program has waned as business groups warn it could hurt the economy.

Why it matters: Last August, Whitmer prioritized the implementation of paid family and medical leave , urging lawmakers to establish a program to provide workers and their families with "breathing room" if a new baby arrives or a relative falls ill.

Zoom out: New laws across the country are expanding access to benefits to reduce the stress and financial burden of these life events.

State of play: Democratic Michigan lawmakers rolled out a paid family and medical leave proposal in May 2023.

• A payroll tax would pay for the state-run program to provide up to 15 weeks of paid leave for workers to care for a new child, help a sick parent or take time off for other family or medical emergencies, the Free Press reports .
• A new state-commissioned actuarial analysis pegs the program's initial annual cost at between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion.

The big picture: Whitmer is a rising star within the Democratic Party. As governor, she often touts initiatives that make life more affordable for working and middle-class families.

Flashback: "No one should have to choose between being there for their family and a paycheck," Whitmer said last August, per the Detroit News. "It's time for paid family and medical leave."

The latest: Whitmer seems to have significantly decreased her support.

• Her office did not provide answers to Axios Detroit's questions about the governor's stance on the proposed paid leave program and the recent cost analysis.
• "We are reviewing the report and proposed legislation," a Whitmer spokesperson emailed Axios Detroit this week.

Meanwhile, advocates are encouraged by the new cost study.

• It shows "that a state-run plan would not bankrupt the state. This means that it's something that is possible and we need the political will to make it so," Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, told Crain's .

The other side: Business groups say the proposal is too costly for employers and workers, even if some small businesses were to be exempted.

• "There's no way we can support that," Amanda Fisher, Michigan director of the National Federation of Independent Business, told Crain's.