For Immediate Release
Friday, February 21, 2025
Patriotic Millionaires: Gretchen Whitmer Has Disqualified Herself from the Presidency
“Everybody lost today when Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 8 into law. Tipped workers lost. Businesses lost. And the Democrats lost too when they sacrificed the most vulnerable workers in Michigan to lobbyists.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after passing the House and Senate with support from a number of fellow Democrats, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 8 into law. This legislation will speed up the state’s $15 minimum wage increase to 2027 and preserve the subminimum wage for tipped workers at 50% of the standard minimum.
In response, Abigail Disney, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and member of Patriotic Millionaires, said:
“Once again, Democrats have thrown working people under the bus, this time in Michigan under the stewardship of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It doesn’t matter that only a few Democrats went along with this effort to tank the Court-ordered phaseout of the state’s subminimum wage for tipped workers. In its quest to rebrand itself and win back the working-class vote, Democrats needed to present a unified front in this pivotal moment in Michigan – and anything less than that, which this is, should be taken as an abysmal failure.
This is the unfortunate but predictable outcome of a party that has proven itself over the years to be for sale to the highest bidder. Voters will definitely notice, and Democrats shouldn’t expect them to forgive and forget at the polls in 2026 and beyond.”
In response, John Driscoll, Chair of Magnit Global and the co-author of Pay the People! Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America, said:
“Restaurant lobbyists in Michigan may say that they ‘won’ this battle in preserving the subminimum wage for tipped workers, but in the end, their efforts will only hurt themselves and their state’s economy. I know from my own experience as the CEO and chair of businesses that pay people stable and fair wages that doing so is best for workers, businesses, and the broader economy. When workers have economic security, they are more loyal and productive, which will help businesses and stimulate growth.
Contrary to what restaurant associations may claim, everybody lost today when Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 8 into law. Tipped workers lost. Businesses lost. And the Democrats lost too when they sacrificed the most vulnerable workers in Michigan to lobbyists.”
In response, Erica Payne, Founder and President of Patriotic Millionaires, said:
“By signing SB 8 and dismantling the wage floor for working people in Michigan, Gov. Whitmer has disqualified herself from the Democratic Party’s nomination for presidency. An hour spent volunteering for her will be an hour wasted. A dollar donated to her political future might as well be set on fire.
Make no mistake: if Gretchen Whitmer runs for president after what she did today, she will lose.
In November, working people just gave the electoral middle finger to Democrats. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision in this matter makes it abundantly clear why voters don’t trust – and shouldn’t trust – Democrats. Her failure to raise and fortify the wage floor will trap workers in a cycle of poverty that undermines the American economy and threatens the foundation of democratic capitalism for us all.”
For interview requests with John Driscoll, Erica Payne, or other members of the Patriotic Millionaires, please contact Emily McCloskey at emily@patrioticmillionaires.org.
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