LANSING, Mich. – Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D–Flint) and House Democratic Leader Sam Singh (D–East Lansing) responded to Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2018 State of the State Address by calling on him to end the profits-over-people ideology that has hurt Michigan families and held our state back for the last seven years.
Democrats vowed to continue to fight for working families by championing policies that keep more money in their pockets, provide opportunities to attain new skills and bring high-quality, good-paying jobs to Michigan.
“The governor paints a pretty picture of Michigan, but too many families aren’t seeing it,” Sen. Ananich said. “Instead, they’re seeing crumbling roads, aging schools and dangerous water contamination issues creeping up all over the state. We hear a lot of talk, but action doesn’t follow. Democrats remain committed to righting these wrongs in order to make Michigan a safer, more stable place to live, work and play.”
This State of the State Address marks Gov. Snyder’s eighth and final address. It is a tenure that has shown concern for the bottom line instead of those who live here, and has consistently failed Michiganders, including:
- Presiding over the Flint water crisis, that led to the deaths of at least 12 residents and the lead poisoning of many more;
- Gutting classroom resources to the point where education is now underfunded by nearly $2000 per student and teachers have to do more with less;
- Falsely accusing tens of thousands of residents of unemployment fraud and then failing to provide restitution after the mismanagement was exposed;
- Celebrating a roads plan and higher taxes and fees for Michigan drivers that will leave our roads worse in 2025 than they were in 2015;
- Allowing dangerous PFAS contaminants to linger in drinking water sources across the state, which has resulted in public health studies of cancer clusters and decreasing home values of those affected;
- Inviting drug and sex scandals into state prisons by privatizing food services and contracting with a company known for its lack of oversight; and,
- Failing to protect the residents of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, where veterans experienced neglect and abuse at the hands of staff.
“Governor Snyder and Lansing Republicans continue to talk about a ‘comeback’ but they fail to talk about what we are coming back to – lower wages, broken roads, overcrowded schools and struggling communities,” Leader Singh added. “While the legislation that has been passed in the last seven years may have benefited wealthy donors and out-of-state corporations, it hasn’t helped working families. It’s time for our state’s Republican leadership to readjust their priorities and focus on issues that help working families, and our state, succeed.”