(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/06/22) Workforce is the No. 1 issue for legislatures countrywide, but in Michigan, reproductive health will also be a focal point, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
NCSL CEO Tim Story said in a virtual media briefing Tuesday that the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which put abortion rights back in the hands of states, is “front and center” for Michigan.
"When many states went from long-term Democratic control to long-term Republican control, there was a lot of pent up ideas that were from the more conservative approach to policymaking that they began to work on and I think that's exactly what's going to happen in Michigan," he said. "… Obviously, the Dobbs decision and … reproductive health are going to be front and center for Michigan's Legislature and Michigan's Governor.
"By its very nature, when one party takes control there's a sort of, let's call it, pent-up demand, from their perspectives. You can take that to the bank in Michigan," Story added.
Nationwide, November's general election saw 83% of state legislative seats up for grab and while it was a "low-change election" as it relates to state political make up, there was a huge turnover – more than 1,500 new legislators begin their terms when states' legislators convene for the 2023 session.
Michigan is one of about 45 states whose new term begins in January while some states begin in February. California began Monday and Maine's session begins Wednesday.
Story said the Dobbs decision "very clearly" moved reproductive rights to the top of many state legislatures' agendas with an estimated 25 states "probably not" making it a center point.
Workforce issues, however, will top 50 state agendas and that issue drives the other big topics for 2023, including state budgets, which are experiencing historic rainy day fund levels, as well as housing, crime and education, Story said.
"Workforce. It is an issue pervading every other issue, whether we're talking about health, mental health, criminal justice, policing, schools, education, and whether we're talking about state agency workforce … or private sector workforce, it is an economic issue, a fiscal issue, a budget issue," he added. "There is high demand and people cannot find qualified staff. Where have the people gone? … The big thing is labor, employment, workforce issues and it underwrites everything."
