Following last night's State of the State Address, we asked several mid-Michigan lawmakers to grade Governor Rick Snyder's first year in office.
As you can imagine, their grades reflected their party.
Republican State Senator Roger Kahn gave Snyder a passing grade.
"At least a B+, and I'm not a particularly easy grader either. And the reason for that, of course, is related to getting the budget done, right sizing the state economy. As part of doing that, reforming some of our long-term liabilities, getting a better tax structure from the point of view of job growth."
Democratic State Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes wasn't as willing to give Snyder high marks for his first year in office.
"I would have to give him an "I," and that would be an incomplete. We have seen a tax rate that has been reduced beyond measure, and that was able to happen by filling a gap in the budget with school aid funds. What we didn't see is venture capitalists and jobs coming to the state in any record numbers. That, in itself, said to me that even those individuals who can create jobs and can look to create jobs, have looked at this budget as one that they're not real comfortable with. Will this be something that is sustainable? Is it even believable?
Erwin Oakes said she is hopeful the state will begin to turn around this year, but she said the jury is still out on the policies approved over the last year.
As you can imagine, their grades reflected their party.
Republican State Senator Roger Kahn gave Snyder a passing grade.
"At least a B+, and I'm not a particularly easy grader either. And the reason for that, of course, is related to getting the budget done, right sizing the state economy. As part of doing that, reforming some of our long-term liabilities, getting a better tax structure from the point of view of job growth."
Democratic State Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes wasn't as willing to give Snyder high marks for his first year in office.
"I would have to give him an "I," and that would be an incomplete. We have seen a tax rate that has been reduced beyond measure, and that was able to happen by filling a gap in the budget with school aid funds. What we didn't see is venture capitalists and jobs coming to the state in any record numbers. That, in itself, said to me that even those individuals who can create jobs and can look to create jobs, have looked at this budget as one that they're not real comfortable with. Will this be something that is sustainable? Is it even believable?
Erwin Oakes said she is hopeful the state will begin to turn around this year, but she said the jury is still out on the policies approved over the last year.