MI GOP Responds to Granholm's State of the State Address

Governor Granholm's State of the State Address offered Michigan much of the same...and so did our response.  Below is a draft of the press release that the MI GOP sent out immediately following the governor's speech.

Meet the New State of the State...

Same as the Old State of the States

LANSING- In the spirit of Gov. Granholm’s State of the State address tonight – which was full of pandering bromides, budget-busting spending increases, and previously announced yet unfulfilled initiatives – Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis said he would let stand commentary he made on the governor’s past performances.

“What I said in 2005, 2006 and 2007 holds today: Michigan has a governor without a plan,” Anuzis said. “Most of the governor’s speech was a rehash of previous proposals she has failed to accomplish. The single most important issue facing Michigan families today is the economy, and Gov. Granholm’s only contribution on that front was to push through the largest tax increase in state history. Tonight, the governor offered no indication that the coming year will be any different – or better – than the previous five years under her tenure.”

Chairman Anuzis said journalists and commentators are welcome to quote from his previous remarks of past State of the State addresses, excerpts of which are provided below:

2007…

“It is time that the governor faced reality – Michigan can not afford business as usual. We need to look closely at every penny spent in state government and figure out what to do differently… No one would have re-elected a governor who campaigned on raising their taxes and Granholm refused to be honest with voters that this is her plan. Granholm has now revealed that she believes tax increases are the best option. The governor is wrong.”

2006…

“Michigan, quite simply, needed more. Four (now six) State of the State addresses later, Gov. Granholm has yet to offer a concrete plan to stop the hemorrhage of Michigan jobs. This week, like so many weeks before it, has been filled with bad economic news for the state. How many more weeks like this must Michigan’s families endure before Governor Granholm steps up and leads? How many more families must face unemployment, or must move to other states, before Governor Granholm offers a vision and a plan?”

2005…

“Jennifer Granholm proved one thing tonight: She has no idea how to fix Michigan's problems… Job creators have less of a reason to come to Michigan now than ever, and the blame lies squarely at the governor's feet.  Tonight's address is another example of the governor's attempt to cover up her lack of leadership by making things sound warm and fuzzy for Michigan's citizens. The stark reality is that this governor is failing Michigan's working families by creating a higher tax burden, producing the highest unemployment rate in the nation and spending more time blame shifting than problem solving.”