Rick Synder

A conversation with Governor Snyder about his budget proposal

Mercedes Mejia, Jennifer White and Zoe Clark — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:04:10 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder spoke to Michigan Radio’s Jennifer White about his budget proposal for fiscal year 2013.

In the proposal are some funding increases for education, public safety and infrastructure.

LISTEN: 2012 State of State address

The Associated Press and Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:39:06 +0000

From the Associated Press:

An upbeat Gov. Rick Snyder says Michigan now is adding jobs and living within its means and is poised for an even better year ahead if lawmakers approve new projects boosting the economy such as a bridge linking Detroit and Canada.

Snyder made the comments during his second State of the State address Wednesday at the Capitol.

Legislative priorities in 2012 & the State of the State address

Mercedes Mejia and Jennifer White — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:19:17 +0000

The Michigan Legislature began the new session this week, and with Gov. Rick Snyder scheduled to deliver his second State of the State address, the agenda for state government is underway.

Michigan Radio's Jennifer White asks, what kind of relationship might we see between the Governor and the legislature this year?

She spoke with Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service, and Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and Senior Policy Fellow at Public Sector Consultants.

The Year in State Politics

Jennifer White and Mercedes Mejia — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:06:55 +0000

This year, ushered in a new Governor, Republican Rick Snyder, and Republican majorities in both the House and Senate.

Joining us to take a look back at the year in state politics are Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service, and Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants.

Political Roundup: Workers' compensation

Jennifer White and Zoe Clark — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:24:38 +0000

The Michigan legislature has passed a bill that would make major changes to the state’s workers' compensation law.

Under the new bill, insurance companies can reduce the amount of compensation to an injured worker based on how much that worker could make at another job while injured. That’s regardless of whether that job is even available.

It’s now headed to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.

Workforce training: Connecting people to jobs

Jennifer White — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:41:39 +0000

Today, Governor Rick Snyder unveiled his plan for talent development.

The goal is to more closely align workers with available jobs.

In this week's political roundup we take a closer look at the plan with Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service, and Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority leader and senior policy fellow at Public Section Consultants.

A New Detroit River Bridge: Bump in the Bridge Bills

Jack Lessenberry — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:38:21 +0000

So what happened yesterday?

For months, everybody interested in the possibility of a new bridge over the Detroit River had waited for the State Senate Economic Development Committee to take a vote.

The Bridge: Beyond Any Doubt

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:49:10 +0000

Pretend you are a judge, let me give you some undisputed facts, and then tell me how you would make up your mind.

The top business leaders of this state strongly support a new bridge over the Detroit River. So do the major leaders of both political parties. The bridge wouldn’t cost the taxpayers of Michigan a cent.

What’s more, the bridge would instantly mean billions of dollars and thousands of desperately needed jobs for our poor battered state. Not when it was completed, but right away, right now.

That’s because the federal government has agreed to count money Canada is giving us to cover our costs as state matching money for federal highway funds. That would mean two point two billion dollars to fix our roads and bridges.

The politics behind Gov. Snyder's Healthier Michigan plan

Mercedes Mejia, Jennifer White and Zoe Clark — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:19:07 +0000

Gov. Rick Snyder presented a health address on Wednesday that outlines his plan to improve the health of Michigan residents. Here to take a look at the politics behind the plan are Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service, and Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants. How are Democrats and Republicans reacting to the governor's plan?

Republicans vs. Teachers' Unions

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:45:21 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder has some intense opposition, but it hasn’t risen to the levels of protest against his two newly elected GOP neighbors and colleagues, Governors John Kasich in Ohio and Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

And there’s a reason for that. Snyder has been both politically smarter and less ideological than those men. He says he is interested in results, not in settling scores. He’s been pushing through reforms that haven’t made public employee unions happy.

But he says he is not interested in taking away the unions’ collective bargaining rights. Some of the more conservative Republicans in the legislature are trying to push so-called “right to work” legislation, which would outlaw union shops in Michigan.

But Snyder says he has no interest in that. Which, even if you are against unions, is very smart. Union membership and clout have been declining for years. They now represent barely seven percent of workers in the private sector.

The Michigan Supreme Court and the Pension Tax

Jack Lessenberry — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:27:28 +0000

The Michigan Supreme Court will soon issue an opinion on whether the new law taxing pensions is constitutional.

If they say it is, it’s full speed ahead for the governor’s plan. If they decided that taxing pensions is not constitutional, it’ll knock a huge hole in the budget. That means the state will have to get more revenue -- which means raising taxes.

That, or roll back the business tax cuts or slash aid to education and other programs more severely than ever.

And while I don’t pretend to know exactly what would happen, I can tell you this, after talking to the governor last week. He isn’t about to roll back the tax cuts, and he doesn’t want to raise taxes.

What can we expect in the upcoming legislative session?

Jennifer White — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:08:09 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-982547.mp3

The Michigan legislature starts its new session soon. So, what can we expect from Governor Snyder and state legislators in the coming months?

We talk about state politics with Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and Senior Policy Fellow at Public Sector Consultants, and Susan Demas Political Analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service.

Social issues and Michigan politics (audio)

Jennifer White — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:40:21 +0000

It's been a very busy legislative year in Michigan. There’s a new tax code, teacher tenure reform, and a new state budget. But across the country, social issues have been major legislative topics, but not so much in this state.

In our weekly political discussion Michigan Radio's Jennifer White talks with Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service and Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and Senior Policy Fellow at Public Sector Consultants.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-976591.mp3

The primary focus, so far, has been on jobs and the budget according to Demas who says social issues have snuck into legislative talks.

"With the budget, the gay partner benefit issue held up the process for several days with House Republicans trying to get some provisions in that would penalize universities that offer domestic partner benefits. And committees have been doing work on abortion issues, particularly the so-called partial birth abortion issue."

A conversation with Former State School Superintendent Tom Watkins (audio)

Jennifer White — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:17:54 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder outlined a plan to try to turn around the lowest performing schools in the state.

The Education Achievement System would start in the 2012-2013 school year with the lowest performing schools in the Detroit Public School System and would eventually spread out to underperforming schools across the state.

Michigan Radio's Jennifer White spoke with Tom Watkins, Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction about the potential pitfalls and benefits of the EAS plan. Watkins is currently a business and educational consultant in the US and China.

You can hear the interview here:

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-974762.mp3

Michigan economist on state's new tax structure

Jennifer White — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:25:59 +0000

Governor Snyder and the legislature have come to an agreement on the state’s new tax structure. Does it make fiscal sense? 

Michigan Radio's Jennifer White spoke with Charles Ballard, an economist at Michigan State University and author of “Michigan’s Economic Future.” Here's the interview.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/michigan/local-michigan-969650.mp3