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Whitmer asks business leaders to press GOP for COVID relief

Courtesy Governor Whitmer's Twitter

Governor Gretchen Whitmer asked business leaders Friday to back her COVID-19 relief plans and to demand civility in politics.

Whitmer addressed the influential Detroit Regional Chamber in an online session. She asked the chamber to use its clout to help erase a toxic political culture.

“It think in this moment that it’s really important that the chamber and the members of the chamber lean in and hold people who espouse rhetoric that is dangerous accountable,” said Whitmer.

Whitmer did not mention Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey by name, but the GOP leader’s drawn rebukes for comments about the governor as well as describing the attack by Trump supporters on the US Capitol as a hoax. 

Whitmer also asked business leaders to help end a standoff with GOP lawmakers on plans to accept and spend millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds.