Democratic Leader Says Snyder Hasn't Delivered On Promises
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The Democratic leader in the state House says things have gotten worse in Michigan under Gov. Rick Snyder.
As WWJ's Tim Skubick reports, some lawmakers say Snyder will be painting a deceiving picture during his third State of the State address.
"This governor is all about big corporations and has done nothing for everyday people in the state well again that the perfect example of the governor's promises (to develop jobs) but where are the jobs?" said Rep. Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills.
Greimel said the governor will speak in optimist terms but he says the governor's record is not optimist for middle-class families at all.
"One only needs to look at the policies he's pushed, and the massive tax cuts that he has given to corporations and how he has paid for them - which is through huge cuts and funding to our schools and through huge tax increases on middle-class and working families to know that this governor is all about big corporations," said Greimel.
Greimel noted the nearly $2 billion in corporate tax cuts approved by Snyder and the Republican-controlled Legislature and points out that the tax cuts have not created the jobs promised by Snyder.
Michigan's unemployment rate of 8.9 percent remains well above the national average.
On a scale of 1-10, Greimel says the Michigan governor is in the 2-3 range.
It is expected that Republicans will give the governor high marks for turning the Michigan economy around.
Snyder counters that Michigan has the 6th fastest growing state in the U.S. in terms of gross domestic product in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
"It's a fairer system, in terms of making it simple, fair and efficient - these steps all add up and have us on the comeback path," said Snyder.
The governor defends his tax policy but the Democrats say it is too pro-corporation and too anti the middle-class.
