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Posted on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.

Rick Snyder: 1st year as Michigan's governor was 'foundation year'

By Paula Gardner

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is looking back on his first year in office as a "foundation year," he said in a recent interview on MLive.com.

The reason, according to the report: "Sweeping changes to tax codes were set in place to spur job creation as parts of a wide-ranging plan to pull the state from its economic doldrums."

Rick Snyder at rally.jpg

Ryan Stanton | AnnArbor.com

In the interview with reporter Dave Murray, Snyder went on to say that change makes people uncomfortable.

He continued: “But I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘I don’t agree with everything you are doing, but I appreciate that you’re changing things.’ And we haven’t seen the protests outside my window for a long time.”

Read the full interview, including a list of 11 significant developments from his office in 2011.

Comments

Born A2

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.

A foundation? I guess we have a foundation to start our downward spiral now....

Basic Bob

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:50 p.m.

Start? LOL

Ethics Advocate

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.

I suspect that replies to messages do not get opened as much as messages get read. So I'd like to repeat a fact-based reply from JCJ to Sallyxyz: Like Ohio, Michigan was hobbled by a downturn in manufacturing and the bursting housing bubble. But in November, Michigan registered the biggest monthly drop in its unemployment rate -- 0.8 percentage points to 9.8 percent Read BIGGEST monthly DROP! When was Granholm able to say that?

Sparty

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.

Thanks President Obama for restoring the nations manufacturing sector, particularly the auto industry in Michigan over the fierce objections of republicans. You saved GM and Chrysler, their suppliers, dealerships, and untold other businesses that rely on them - and Michigan is particularly benefitting as a result. Thank you!!!

dexterreader

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.

If what he has done thus far is only the "foundation", we are in serious trouble.

nekm1

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.

When your choice is another 4-8 years of "Ice Cream for Everyone", or someone willing to make tough choices to improve Michigan, I choose the latter. Gov. Rick has been great for this state! A+

Diane

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.

He's had difficult choices & has had to undo what others have done. Be patient.

Sparty

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:55 a.m.

Be patient, Snyder wants to beat Florida's Governor for lowest approval rating in the US as we continue to be a national laughing stock on things like our bullying law, domestic partner benefit ban, unemployment reductions, etc.

A2lover

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.

To evaluate his performance, compare it to his voice - insipid, uninspiring, hollow and it sounds like he has no testicles. Foundation year! Next year it'll be "This is only my first year" then "Well, it's only my second year". The only "foundation" Snyder employed is under his suit, foundation garments.

A2lover

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.

No not most Democrats, Republicans.

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.

"insipid, uninspiring, hollow and it sounds like he has no testicles." Sounds like a generic description of most Democrats to me!

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.

How about we conduct our own poll concerning A2.com. A2.com polls are: A) Brilliant B) Pitiful C) Clueless D) A waste of time

Sparty

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:52 a.m.

How about if you don't like it, don't participate ?

Ronald K. Dankert

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.

So, here's Mr. or Ms. "Anonymous" calling the Governor a "gutless coward"? Countless valuable opinions in these pages could be taken much more seriously with real persons' names attached to them. it's more challenging to composition of course, but the results could be much more useful to an important community dialogue. Ron Dankert

Tru2Blu76

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 7:28 a.m.

Central to this conservative Republican governor's claims: "Snyder has staked his administration on job creation. He believes businesses, especially smaller ones, will start hiring more people once the tax changes are fully in place. But he said the state's recovery has been slowed by national and even international concerns over government debt." Which neatly avoids mentioning a few things like: (1) The reason for the growth in federal debt is due as much to a botched attempt to fight two wars in two different countries: prolonging the "emergency funding" for the Iraq War which ran at $83 billion per quarter for over nine years. And - resulted in the U.S. having to recommit to fighting the resurgent Taliban for yet more years. (2) The elimination of regulations in the name of "helping businesses" which resulted in a major portion of those businesses committing a massive fraud which toppled the U.S. and world economies. So naturally: the already (Reagan) reduced tax revenue took a huge dive and nothing could be done to stop the existing federal commitments from draining the U.S. Treasury. Yeah - let's let the Republicans "help business" some more so they can put this country and this state into the ground. Oh, and the nit-picking issue of price labeling was around for decades, it's insignificant so don't be fooled. The most "good" it'll do is give more excuse to lay off more of the work force (consumers be damned). A date should be set - say around May of next year - for a state wide general strike. Those who may not know may think that's a union effort - but a general strike is one conducted by all workers, in order to force government to straighten up and do the bidding of the people who actually make the economy run. Sock away a couple weeks income - and then just nobody go to work for that amount of time.

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.

"Sock away a couple weeks income" What and give up my latte? Why not expand it to a national strike and I'm in!

towny

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 5:34 a.m.

Sorry, 8 years of Granholm was the problem. Gov. Snyder is just trying to right the state. I do not agree with everything he has done. But, reform was needed. Welfare recipients thought they where on a payroll for life. Sorry. Gov. Snyder has leaned to far toward business though and has hurt the state. All in All. Time will tell if this state of Michigan can pull itself up from the bottom of most of this nations economic rankings.

Sallyxyz

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:38 a.m.

This guy is a colossal failure. Only one year? He will succeed in running MI further into the ground in the next 3. Recall now!

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.

Like Ohio, Michigan was hobbled by a downturn in manufacturing and the bursting housing bubble. But in November, Michigan registered the biggest monthly drop in its unemployment rate -- 0.8 percentage points to 9.8 percent Read BIGGEST monthly DROP! When was Granholm able to say that?

julieswhimsies

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:35 a.m.

Foundation for what? Failure?

Oregon39_Michigan7

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:04 a.m.

EPIC FAIL. I thought he was suppose to be a moderate, only concerned with jobs and not a ultra-right winger. We were all fooled.

dogpaddle

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:23 a.m.

@Roadman: Yeah, let's see how well your so called moral footing works out for us economically when we slip into 50th for our backwards way of thinking. It's not the gov's job to moralize. That's your minister's job. The gov is to be impartial from moral judgements based on religious beliefs (see First Amendment) and it's his or her job to lead the state into a fiscally sound place (not make it worse based on irresponsible decisions) and represent ALL of the people, not just ones who agree with him religiously. If you want a better example of a leader who can put his deeply held religious beliefs aside and govern from the office, not the church, take a good look at Mitt Romney. And former President Senior Bush endorsed him today. Another fine example of what the Republican party used to stand for: fiscal responsibility, social moderation. And, no, I'm not supporting Mitt. I just think he's a better example of what Republicans need and should be about.

dogpaddle

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.

Speaking for my people as one of the local wackos, here is how Rick's mistakes will fall out: Unlike Lansing (past and present), I have to tighten my belt and make financially responsible decisions. His mistakes are costing me and starting next month, I will have less income and less deductions from my taxes for 2012. And for those of you who think this recently retired public servant living on less than 40% of my previous income (all of which was 5 figures, not 6 - so do the math) should just go get a job, would that be one of the ones Rick created with these changes? They would be where? I thought my shared sacrifice came before he was gov (while Granholm was around and created the retirement incentive to cut state costs). I didn't sign up for the upcoming sacrifices, too. So here's how this will play out: Michigan Theater, I love you dearly. You are indeed a shrine in the heart of the city I also love and have chosen to stay in (so far - stayed tuned, though). But my support of you will now be only in the form of going to movies of my choice. I will not be renewing my membership. I have to save that money plus I can no longer get the Michigan tax credit for it. Perhaps you can save a little money by ceasing the monthly mailings reminding me. I hope you don't disappear due to Rick's short-sightedness. UM - no more $ from me. Ask one of your six figured employees to cough up more than their usual gifts. HSHV - my contributions won't change. Animals don't have a voice and I feel terrible the county has cut your funding. So I'd rather do with less food for me than think about stray dogs and cats and other animals not having your wonderful shelter. That means that I will be putting less dollars in the local economy (our wonderful array of food options - I do hope all y'all stay in business, however, and I won't dump you - just be spending less because I have to now). So I might still be a customer, but not as good of a one. AA Ed Foundation - see UM.

leaguebus

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.

The disaster before the Slickster left the state 17th in business climate, Higher than all the states around us but Indiana. She also tried to maintain the states educational resources even with revenues going down the toilet. Slickster laid off thousands of well paid teachers and cut education by 15%, to reward his business buddies with a house tax break. Now, his buddies in business come out and say there are thousands of jobs not being filled because we don't have trained workers. What are these people doing when they can't find workers? They are going elsewhere to build these plants and fill the jobs because we don't have the money to quickly start the training programs they need. At least Granholm recognized that education is a state resource like trees used to be before the state was logged off and ruined by short sighted job creators.

Roadman

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 12:32 a.m.

God bless Governor Snyder for his needed leadership over the past year. The domestic partner benefit ban and the beefed-up EFM law is what Michigan needed to regain its footing morally and economically. Governor Snyder is a local hero.

Sparty

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:49 a.m.

So it's moral to ban health benefits? To children? Adults? 3 days before Christmas with NO notice? Whose morals are you referring to? Since when is it the Governments job to impose morals on tax paying citizens ? That is one of the most offensive and scary thoughts possible.

Sparty

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 8:04 a.m.

Single digits supporting you Roadman. The Guv is toast.

Mr. Incredible

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:54 a.m.

One term Governor Rick Snyder continues to seal his fate. Job creators? Roadman, can you get Jesus on board to help all Michiganders, including minorities? Tebow it up for us, please. And while you're at it, talk to the Mayor of Troy. Refusing federal money to create jobs. Tea party supporter? You are re-electing Obama, thanks.

motorcycleminer

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 11:49 p.m.

Ahhh...How quickly the Sheeple of Ann Arbor forget about the disaster that was in office before him...thank god the rest of the state was smart enough to try and put us back into reality ...long live oz, excuse me Ann Arbor @ least there you can contain most of wackos in one place ...

AMOC

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.

Signing the law eliminating domestic partner benefits for state employees lost him a whole letter grade in my rating. Rick, real nerds do the right thing, not the "right-wing radical Christian" thing. Please use that relentless postive energy to do only things that will make life and business in Michigan better. Individual choices about personal issues should trump everything but safety.

Anonymous

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.

There is nothing "Christian" about being a discriminating bigot!!

Anonymous

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

Terrible, terrible, terrible! I can't believe it's only been a year. What more about Michigan will he destroy in the next three years. Recall him, now!!! He's a disgrace to Michigan and I'm ashamed he's our governor! He's a gutless coward!!

Oregon39_Michigan7

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:05 a.m.

co-sign

javajolt1

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.

Arrrgh. Again, why does annarbor.com have to put words in our mouths by immaturely editorializing the responses in their polls? What is wrong with metrics like: Excellent Good Average Fair Poor why do we get &quot;Epic Fail&quot;....and &quot;It could have been worse, but barely&quot;. Who writes these? These aren't as bd as some. Look at the poll language around the Joan Lowenstein speech (<a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/former-council-members-critique-of-the-anti-party-in-ann-arbor-gets-local-politicos-fired-up/)">http://www.annarbor.com/news/former-council-members-critique-of-the-anti-party-in-ann-arbor-gets-local-politicos-fired-up/)</a> , stuff like, &quot;I'm offended - she should apologize&quot;. C'mon already.

Sparty

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.

What - you don't get the concept of A, B, C, D, or E? Get over it.

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.

I would like to 2nd Javajolt1 Always the dumbest poll

PersonX

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.

On the dime! There is something goofy about this blog (and about Snyder as well) ... Whatever happened to journalism?

godsbreath64

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.

Not that you are not on point, but the a-b-c-d-e does proceed the vintage party-state phoo-phoo. Both reasons of context. 67% between the hardliners? ..... For disclosure ... Sorry, this was an essay test of a shocking and unprecedented year.

Cash

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.

Amen

shutthefrtdoor

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.

In my opinion...the &quot;changes&quot; being done in this administration will come back to haunt those of us that choose to stay in Michigan: or are forced. I don't see anything done in the past year by Snyder that is contributory to the up-tick in our economy. Those changes will eventually lead to less money in &quot;average&quot; citizens pockets and the &quot;1%er's&quot; getting more. Just what they need...more...NOT!

Bear

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.

yeah, really... get a grip

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.

Ok...&quot;forced&quot;... meaning not feasible to move for a number of different possible reasons. One may have strong family ties, one may have one of the few remaining &quot;good&quot; irreplaceable jobs, joint custody of children, retired with meager income and a paid for home...the list goes on. My point is that those of us that will remain will burden more costs and be affected by the &quot;fountain&quot;...get it???

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.

In my opinion...the &quot;changes&quot; being done in this administration will come back to haunt those of us that choose to stay in Michigan: or are forced Forced? Really?

Homeland Conspiracy

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.

We hear a lot of &quot;Maybe next year&quot; in Michigan

Bear

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.

I cannot wait until election... i hate this guy and I rarely hate anybody.

A2anon

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.

Ugh, and I just heard that he signed the bill banning domestic partner benefits! Merry fricking Christmas, Rick.

Bear

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

And he wasted no time in setting up a slush fund for corporate donations to help repay his campaign expenses. whoo-hoo!

godsbreath64

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.

$1.8 BILLION to pay back his few buddies, with interest of course, and he saves the state a few hundred thousand banning benefits of loved ones of those who work for the state. The jobs just flow from that law, too. Look at 'm all.

A2anon

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.

Oh my God, has it only been a YEAR? What a nightmare.

towny

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 5:23 a.m.

I agree we had 8 years of gloom and doom with Granholm. That is where the downward slide started.

grye

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.

Must have felt like a century under Jen.

godsbreath64

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.

Lansing had unprecedented protests that were a spring training for what is on deck next year. The nation media now calls our once great state &quot;the new Mississippi&quot; for disinfranchising 50% of the african-american votes. That is not a good year, but an atrocity of a public sector virgin. RDS acts too much like a garden variety party-before country hack who must prevaricate positively rather being honest, first and foremost, with HIMSELF. Depending on which tape is rolling he pontificates he is a &quot;conservative&quot; or a reformer. But to be fair, media malpractice can take a good part of the blame for their prophylactics. He didn't conserve the constitution he was charged from AND BOND TO, but instead liberated his campaign supporters to the tune of $1.8 BILLION while throwing the disabled, elderly and children of disadvantaged parents off the assistance THEY NEED -during a depression. That is a failure of guv; nothing to be celebrating. This year was a ruse, not a foundation. It is a trap door. He has severely hurt the credibility of SCOMI in an desperate but failed attempt to legitimize one counter-constitutional scheme after another. His disciples with scream bloody murder that this ad rem commentary is rhetoric, BUT THE HONEST TRUTH INDICATES FACTS ARE FACTS Pack your bags, guv. You are about to be fired. Oh, wait you don't do Lansing. You bags where never packed.

Bear

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.

jcj, Snyder has made it more difficult for people to get unemployment or family assistance. I know people who are trying to get unemployment who are frustrated in their efforts by being stymied in their attempts to get help by the very people whose job it is to assist them. So, those numbers are meaningless in the face of what is really happening. Yeah, no news media is covering THAT story.

Basic Bob

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.

Please cite your sources. If disenfranchisement is indeed taking place, I will vigorously fight against it.

Basic Bob

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.

@Tom Whitaker, When employment opportunities dwindle here, people are encouraged to look elsewhere. Not a shocker for those of us who moved HERE for a better job. Your population statistics cover the term of Gov. Granholm and her last budget year., if blame must be placed on state government (IMO it shouldn't be)

Sparty

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:50 p.m.

Thanks President Obama for restoring the nations manufacturing sector, particularly the auto industry in Michigan over the fierce objections of republicans. You saved GM and Chrysler, their suppliers, dealerships, and untold other businesses that rely on them - and Michigan is particularly benefitting as a result. Thank you!!!

Tom Whitaker

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.

@jcj: At least some of that drop in unemployment is due to people leaving Michigan to find jobs in other states. <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/NEWS06/112220479/Michigan-is-1-of-3-states-to-lose-population?odyssey=tab" rel='nofollow'>http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/NEWS06/112220479/Michigan-is-1-of-3-states-to-lose-population?odyssey=tab</a>|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE While the number of people employed increased by 21,084 from October to November, the total size of the Michigan labor force DECREASED during the same period by 18,674 with the net result being the .8% drop you cite. However, if the labor force had not decreased in size during the same period, the drop in unemployment would have been less the .1%. <a href="http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST26000003" rel='nofollow'>http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST26000003</a>

jcj

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.

Like Ohio, Michigan was hobbled by a downturn in manufacturing and the bursting housing bubble. But in November, Michigan registered the biggest monthly drop in its unemployment rate -- 0.8 percentage points to 9.8 percent Read BIGGEST monthly DROP! When was Granholm able to say that?

theodynus

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.

I would like Rick Snyder to create jobs without doing anything that any business wants. Can't we have jobs without businesses?

gild

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.

&quot;Can't we have jobs without businesses?&quot; This is a joke, right?

grye

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.

That would be a communist state.

DonBee

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.

As predicted Governor Snyder made a lot of hard choices. No one is happy with all of them. I suspect in the long run some will turn out to have been spot on and some completely goofy. But unlike the prior administration he made changes. And as predicted almost everyone is unhappy with the Governor.

grye

Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.

Very good article. I hope commentors will read the article before pounding out the usual anti-Snyder rhetoric. His use of a 2011 being a &quot;foundation&quot; year is very appropriate. Almost all businesses will lose money for the first several years until a client base is established. To expect our economic woes to eliminated with the change in the tax code is unrealistic. It will take time for businesses to feel the effects to allow growth and hire more employees. His comments on education, creating a master teacher program, and the higher than expected charter school limit set by the legislature shows that he has good plans, but that the far right legislature also has their own agenda. He has not signed some laws into effect because he disagrees how far the &quot;far right&quot; has gone. Next year will be the year to see if his changes will have a positive effect on the economy and job creation. Keep the faith.

Steve

Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.

I hope you're enjoying the Kool-Aid. I just know that my future has never been more uncertain than it is now. Please forgive me if I still doubt his intentions, his methods, and his abilities.

Bear

Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.

i've lost %20 of my annual income thanks to Rick Snyder's actions. You cheerleaders don't seem to get it; tax cuts don't equal job creation. Whatever, rah-rah-rah.

nekm1

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.

Thank you for writing an intelligent comment. Very insightful. We are lucky to have someone with Rick's courage of his convictions lead our state!

godsbreath64

Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.

in the party-state