Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill intended to protect construction workers doing road repair. | Petr Magera/Unsplash
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill intended to protect construction workers doing road repair. | Petr Magera/Unsplash
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) in late March signed the 800th bipartisan bill since the start of her term, according to a news release.
"Since I took office, I have been focused on getting things done, and I will work with anyone to deliver on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michiganders," Whitmer said. "Today, 800 bipartisan bills later, I am proud of the work that the Michigan legislature and I have collaborated on. Together, gotten a lot done. We have continued fixing our roads and bridges, empowered Michigan’s economic development, lowered costs with auto insurance reform, helped hundreds of thousands of Michiganders through historic criminal justice reform, and so much more. I look forward to the work ahead as we continue focusing on our shared challenges and putting Michiganders first."
Whitmer signed House Bill 5286, which will better protect Michigan’s construction workers "as we fix the damn roads," the news release said.
"We appreciate Gov. Whitmer’s commitment to fixing the roads and making sure our workers are safe while doing so," Douglas Stockwell, business manager and general vice president of Operating Engineers Local 324, said. "House Bill 5286 will help improve worker safety as we work together to rebuild Michigan’s infrastructure."
Geno Alessandrini, business manager for the Michigan Laborers' District Council, applauded the bill's signing as well.
"Keeping our members safe while on the job is our top priority," Alessandrini said. "House Bill 5286 takes important steps to reduce drivers' speed where our workers are repairing Michigan roads. This keeps both workers and drivers safe."
Whitmer also signed Senate Bills 465 and 466, providing more road funding to local agencies, and Senate Bill 618, which saves schools money by adjusting interest rates for qualified school bond loans.
State Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) praised Senate Bill 618.
"This proactive and responsible measure will generate significant savings for our local schools and the taxpayers who support them," Victory said. "In this challenging and ever-changing economic climate, it is important that we make fiscally responsible decisions that benefit our local communities, now and well into the future."
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