State of the State: What should Gov. Rick Snyder focus on in 2013?
Rick Snyder presents the 2012 State of the State speech | Angela Cesere - AnnArbor.com File Photo
Lansing stole the spotlight as 2012 came to a close with a whirlwind lame-duck session that included Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signing the controversial right-to-work legislation.
Although the dust is still settling from the election year, it is time to set our eyes on 2013 and beyond. Wednesday night, Governor Snyder will be kicking off the second-half of his term with protesters outside the doors of the Capitol when he delivers the State of the State address at 7 p.m.
With a number of issues ranging from the construction of a second bridge over the Detroit River to public transit making progress what will Gov. Snyder's focus be in 2012 as he continues working toward "reinventing our state"? Outstanding issues from past State of the State speeches include the likes of: public safety, education reform, how to finance investments in the state's aging infrastructure system, and the continued need for economic growth.
Are there any issues you think should be at the top of the State's priority list for 2013 and beyond?
Governor Rick Snyder speak on 2012 Accomplishments at the year-end media round table:
Comments
Julie Baker
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 10:46 p.m.
Here's a roundup of ways to watch the address tonight: http://tinyurl.com/aotflb5
Rick Stevens
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:39 p.m.
Thanks so I know what channels to avoid. 'This is a paid political advertisement'.
william
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 10:10 p.m.
He must reverse the destruction he has brought between the state govt and the state's labor unions. He must reverse his polarizing comments about the main city of the state. He must tackle frontally the jobs problem throughout the state, especially in its cities and its northern areas. He must promote more alternative energy construction companies in the state, working to link them more closely to its educational institutions. He must stop his toadying attitudes to the de Vos family enterprises, and investigate the speaker's continued legal violations re conflict of interest activities. He must check into expenditures in the depts of state and the attorney general's office and publish his findings, whether they wish him to or not. He will face the voting consequences of failure to pursue these programs in the next election, as he should.
An Arborigine
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
Give up on building the Snyder Memorial Bridge!
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:04 p.m.
Just a reminder that we don't allow slang terms to be used when referring to any of the various political parties. Feel free to argue your various side but let's keep it as civil and constructive as possible. Thanks!
Kai Petainen
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:36 a.m.
Rick... I don't I've seen A2 censor my SPARK comments.
Rick Stevens
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:38 p.m.
Yes, and don't ever, ever question SPARK and annarbor.com's cheerleading for them.
Westfringe
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
"Recent corporate tax breaks mean that businesses will contribute less than 2 percent to the General Fund, the state's main source of funding. But the working poor – who spend long hours in nursing homes, restaurants, child care and other important but low-paid positions -- will get a $262 million tax increase this year. This is because our state Earned Income Tax Credit was slashed by 70 percent to help pay for corporate tax breaks." Thanks Rick. Republicans are only for tax breaks if they are for the wealthy. http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/01/guest_column_states_broken_tax.html#incart_river_default
E Claire
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 9:55 p.m.
Judy, I know people who do the same thing. It's wrong, and it is also very relevant. These handouts are hurting our state and country. Westfringe, the only thing sickening here is people like you who continue to push your leftist propaganda, knowing full well it is all lies.
Westfringe
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:22 p.m.
You people truly are sick. How can you justify taking money from seniors, school-kids, and the working poor and giving it to corporations?
Westfringe
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:14 p.m.
Sorry guys the vast majority of these tax breaks are not going to small businesses, but large corporations with larger profits. Taking from the "have-nots" to give to the "have-lots" is not right now matter how you try to spin it. Judy, what the .... does food-stamps have to do with this? Do you even know what your commenting on?
grye
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 8:30 p.m.
Westfringe and others think all business owners are Millionaires. They have no clue that the majority of small business owners who were double taxed on their income are part of the middle class.
Judy
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
I agree with you E Claire! Example: I have a niece who I love very much, she is receiving food stamps/bridge card, she is not legally separated from her husband, they are not living together....here is the but his income is over $60,000 dollars a year. I feel this is totally wrong. Yes, it is not her fault her husband cheated on her and yes she and her year old son have to eat....but again "why are tax payers paying for it. She claims she was honest when filling out the paper work to receive her bridge card/food stamps. The part that up-sets me the most is her husband is making more per year than my husband and I together yet the system is set up for her because she has a child to receive these benefits and her husband and her never have to pay them back even if they never get divorce. This is totally wrong.
E Claire
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
Do you consider all small business owners to be "wealthy"? This is the group getting tax breaks, not large, rich business owners. I'm a business owner who scrapes by. Why should I pay more to give to those who are taking more from the system than what they pay in? Use your efforts to help these people get a better salary and keep your hands out of my pockets!
Westfringe
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:41 p.m.
He needs to stop stealing money from the working man and handing it over to his big business buddies. 1.7 billion in tax breaks for corporations while he raises taxes dramatically on us. Including higher gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. Not to mention all of the tax credits he removed including the homestead and charitable donation credits.
Westfringe
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
I wouldn't take away money from those have little to give it to those who have more than enough. Who do you think buys the products that keep these companies producing?
grye
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 8:07 p.m.
Tell us Westfrine, how would you run the State?
E Claire
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:56 p.m.
Why should anyone get a tax break for making a contribution? This is basically making the taxpayer a middle man between the charity and the govt.
grye
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
Figured that anytime you mention the Governor, the "Moriaritys" of the world start coming out (Kelly's Heros: Enough of the negative waves Moriarity!). Would we have been better off with Granholm's programs? If you think the State is not better financially, then just how would you have improved the economy, enticed businesses to Michigan, lowered the unemployment rate, etc? I have yet to see any significant ideas from the naysayers.
Jon Wax
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.
This one should go over like gangbusters!!! He should be finding some funding to bring in a private security force for the city of Detroit. Someone like Blackwater should do the job in about 6 to 8 months. Yeah, yeah... I know. Not a popular idea. But a much needed one. Peace Wax
hermhawk
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.
I trust nothing from the mouth of "Tricky Rick."
Top Cat
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
Contacting successful businesses in Illinois and California and making them an offer they can't refuse to move here.
Kai Petainen
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.
Snyder co-founded SPARK. But, what is SPARK? Apart from the marketing and the articles... what is SPARK? After a former MEDC communications director challenged me when I said that it was a venture capital firm, I went on a pure fact-finding mission to find out. Stay tuned. Just facts and very little opinion. The story will come out soon. But I'll leave you with a few fun facts: They spent $194,291 on cleaning. It's a dirty place? Depending on how you sort/rank the data -- SPARK is the 2nd largest entity of its type in the country. What's bigger than SPARK? The Air Transport Association of America. There is a part of SPARK that is infrequently mentioned. It too has a 990 form. It's called the 'Ann Arbor SPARK Foundation' and it's located at the same place as Ann Arbor SPARK.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 12:33 a.m.
Forms are here for Spark http://tinyurl.com/a6lkhub Forms are here for the SPARK Foundation (rarely heard on A2.com) http://tinyurl.com/agtg8aq NOTE -- one is a 501c3 and one is a 501c6. Both exist at the same location (as per tax forms).
Rick Stevens
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
Thanks - SPARK is a huge political money hole. Good luck though - I've tried and they just stonewall you and own all the local politicians (looking at you, Washtenaw County). Try asking for the audits (all of them) and see their reaction.
Katherine Griswold
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
Thanks. I look forward to more information on SPARK.
antikvetch
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
He should focus on doing everything anyone asks him to do, cuz then everyone will think he's swell....
Basic Bob
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.
What would Virg Bernero do?
E Claire
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
We're talking about Snyder, not Obama...
America
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
Keep moving forward. He needs to continue to drag Michigan (kicking and screaming) out of the early 20th century. Change is hard and painful. Hopefully he stays firm and courageous in his effort to make Michigan relevant again.
lefty48197
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:41 p.m.
He's trying to turn Michigan into a tool to be used by the Koch brothers and by walmart. MICHIGAN DESERVES better!
4Bells
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
Blah, blah, blah....Standing, patronizing, phony, party-affiliated ovation.....Repeat ad nauseum.
lefty48197
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
Snyder should focus on trying to be honest. Lord know I can't believe a single word that comes out of his stinking lying mouth!
Tom Todd
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.
Get the popcorn ready!
Bcar
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
He should focus on removing Pistol Free Zones (i.e. Criminal Empowerment Zones) and increasing the level of training required. grimmk, you dont know what you're talking about. The state IS doing/getting better and is now waaaay more biz friendly, this should slow if not stop people/JOBS leaving the state...
whodat
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 9:34 p.m.
E Claire - Have you been able to hire additional staff because of your tax relief?
E Claire
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.
Patti, small business owners are no longer taxed twice on the same dollar. I'll actually be able to take a vacation this year that isn't spent in my backyard. I'll take this vaca up north and help other small business owners when I shop in their stores and eat at their restaurants. Many, many others in my position. It's the little people like me who are truly benefiting from the tax breaks, not large businesses. The more small businesses that are able to open (and stay open), the better our state economy will be.
B2Pilot
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
Patty it started with repealing the ridicoulas business tax Granholm enacted. He has also made huge gains in correcting Detroit and the schools. The fact that Ford, GM and chrysler are all bringing jobs back here is a good indicator. It wasn't long ago we would read that those jobs would go to a Georgia or Texax plant. Not enough room to comment on everythign but yes from a business perspective there is money to be made here now.
PattyinYpsi
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 2:49 p.m.
Evidence that the state is now "waaaay" more biz friendly?
grimmk
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 11:15 a.m.
He needs to focus on getting himself a new job. Because he royally screwed this one up. He chucked Michigan in the bin in order for himself to gain wealth. He didn't care about us, only himself and his cronies he's in cahoots with. I feel sorry for the next Governor. They'll have one heck of a mess to clean up.
OriginalSnookie
Thu, Jan 17, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
I am surprised Snyder's approval rating is that high. From people I have talked to, along with the comments on this website, it seems most people are excited to vote Snyder out of office in 2014 (myself included)
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 2:09 p.m.
Hi grimmk per the poll many seem to agree with you right now, but per a recent poll Snyder's approval rating is split down the middle at an even 50%. http://bit.ly/10z2loH He has talked about a second term http://bit.ly/UsclKi so I think it will be interesting to see how the next two years of his term pan out. Looking past the lame-duck-session conversation are there any issues you see statewide that Snyder should really hone in on? (eg: roads or tax incentives)