(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/08/2024) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slipped her absentee ballot Tuesday into a drop box outside Lansing City Hall this afternoon, and conceded to the gathered media that she did not vote for a Republican on the ballot this election. 

The Governor said she did not vote straight ticket, choosing instead to vote in each race individually. Asked if she had any concerns about the security of the election after voters and election staff in St. Clair Shores were criminally charged for people voting twice in the August primary, she said bluntly, “No.” 

“A handful of voters who did this should not undermine our confidence in voting absentee. I just turned in my ballot. I’m absolutely confident in our election system.” 

The Governor was asked indirectly about Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz admitting on 60 Minutes and during the recent debate that he misspoke when he said he was in Tiananmen Square in China during the 1989 protests when he was not. 

Asked if she felt that if someone said they “misspoke” is another way of saying that they are not telling the truth, Whitmer said “a lot of people say they misspeak.” 

"We’re all human. Every one of us makes mistakes on occasion. Sometimes we remember something the wrong way. I’m not going to excuse it. 

"I think even acknowledging that it wasn’t correct is important,” the Governor said. “On the other side of the ticket there are people who lie to the American people over and over again and never acknowledge it. 

“They never say, 'Oh guess what? They weren’t actually eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio. Oh, guess what? We’re actually not in favor of abortion. We’re the ones who took credit for getting rid of abortion in this country.' Now, women are dying because of it. They lie over and over again. 

“So, we can quibble about how someone who owned a mistake talked about it, but what we should be focusing on is people who are lying to the American public day in and day out. We should not reward them by giving them more power.” 

On other subjects, Whitmer didn’t tip her hand on what she planned on doing with two Michigan State University Trustees who were referred to her for possible removal from office due to alleged violation of protocol and Board rules. 

She said the Attorney General’s office is reviewing the report from the third party who investigated the matter for the MSU Board of Trustees and will get the office’s opinion when it’s completed. 

“I’m not going to prejudge it until I understand what her analysis is,” Whitmer said. Reminded that she’s had this request since March, she said, “This is a rare power that has not been used frequently. The question is, ‘Is it a legitimate use of the power and how would it work?’ 

“My first and foremost concern is making sure I follow the law and, second, that the university is thriving. It’s been a tough time over there.” 

On other subjects: 

- Asked if she plans on asking lawmakers during lame duck to take another run at a long-term transportation funding source, Whitmer said, “We need to get it done before I am done.”

 “I’m going to continue the work to make sure that as we approach this road funding cliff, we don’t lose some of the good work that we’ve already done . . . So, yes, I’m going to continue to make sure that we stay focused, and we deliver a solution.” 

- Asked if she’d like to see any changes to the pending minimum wage and paid sick leave laws that will go into effect in February, Whitmer said, “I’m not going to unilaterally fix the situation or address the situation. I have got to work with the Legislature, and I’m sure we’re going to have conversations about that when they all get back to town.”