1/17/13 - Governor Rick Snyder said 2012 was a busy year during his State of State address Wednesday night and few would disagree, most especially toward the end. On the legislative side, Republican State Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township says the speech highlighted the great progress made to get Michigan moving in the right direction. He also agreed there needs to be more of discussions centered on roads. GOP State Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township says reinventing Michigan has been a priority for the Legislature and it will be hard to top some items accomplished during the lame duck session, many of which he feels have been needed for decades such as eliminating the personal property tax for manufacturers. He formally re-introduced his Blue Cross Blue Shield reform legislation last night, which was vetoed last year, and says there is no abortion related language in the bills. Hune also said he was elated at mention of reforming the auto no-fault insurance system. On the other hand, Vice Chairman of the Livingston County Democratic Party Mike Tipton says the Governor gave the impression everything was great and felt he really glossed over the recent lame duck session. A re-occurring theme in Snyderâs speech was working together and reinventing the state, but with all of the unrest and controversial legislation passed at the end of the year, Tipton says he doesnât see how it can be possible. Tipton, also a Howell Township Trustee, says Snyder talked about improving education at the same time more per-pupil funding cuts are being put forward but also feels the unemployment rate has not reflected the big tax breaks given to businesses. Following his third State of the State address, Snyder will be speaking today at a sold-out luncheon at Crystal Gardens in Genoa Township hosted by the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce. (JM)
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