'Don't give me sympathy,' Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder tells fellow governors at national conference
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says a funny thing happened during a recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he attended a National Governors Association conference.
Rick Snyder
"Many governors came up to express sympathy to me," Snyder said today in a speech to local business leaders in Washtenaw County. "They actually came up and said, 'You're the governor of Michigan, good luck.' And I said, 'What do you mean? You're a governor, too'"
Snyder, former Ann Arbor venture capitalist, said he cleared the air later during a private session as the governors huddled around a large table and took turns speaking.
"When it got to Michigan, I said, 'We have been at the bottom for 10 years or longer compared to everybody else, but I don't want anybody's sympathy,'" Snyder said. "I said, 'We're coming back, we're proud of who we are, and we're going to make this happen.'
"So I said, 'Don't give me sympathy.'"
Snyder's comments seemed to echo the recent Chrysler Super Bowl commercial featuring rapper Eminem — but he drove away today in a black Chevrolet Suburban, not a Chrysler.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Dennis
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 5:07 p.m.
Back to the Future – They say the "History Repeats Itself". It does! One only need to look at the "Great Depression" of the 30's to see it. A Republican President, Wall Street running unchecked, Banks Failing, Soup Kitchens, Home Foreclosures, Unemployment, and Homeless Families. Sound familiar? Again, after 12 years of Republican control, we are suffering what could be called the "Second Great Depression". Wall Street is again out of control, Banks have been in serious trouble, we have record Home Foreclosures, High Unemployment, Soup Kitchens, etc.. Just like the Getty's, J.P. Morgan, and the rest of the super-rich, the rich continue to get richer while the "average joe" continues to struggle to keep their homes, feed their families, and find work. "In 1936, main economic indicators (except unemployment) regained the levels of the late 1920s...but after the federal government cut spending with the expectation that the private sector would step in, the economy took another sharp downturn until WWII." Sound Familiar? Unions gained popularity and the working class started to make gains. "Causes of the Great Depression are widely debated but typically include a weak banking system, overproduction, bursting credit bubble, the fact that farmers and industrial workers had not shared in the prosperity of the 1920s, and a government-held laissez faire policy" The working class and unions are again under attack by an uncaring Republican Party. Wisconsin is just one example. You can see other examples where Republicans have gained control and are passing laws that limit the rights of all workers, not just union workers. We would be better served by working together rather than letting ourselves be divided by a concerted effort of Republicans and Corporations.
Domey
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
You left out Democrats. The effort is more "concerted" than you are giving it credit for.
braggslaw
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Rick you have the support of the state. Keep perspective and get it done.
Domey
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
Not my part of the state!
BornNRaised
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
It's not Rick that needs sympathy. Nor does his business buddies. It's the workers of Michigan. The school kids, the elderly... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUpO1QFMDtM" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUpO1QFMDtM</a> I don't care if you're pro or anti union. Rich or poor. You can deny the simple fact that Rick's plan of taking 1.7 Billion away from elderly, unemployed, and kids and THEN giving 1.8 billion in tax cuts to business is a red flag. Those of you that praise him as making tough cuts can't see the reality through the fog. He's CREATING a $100 Million shortfall in order to keep his business buddies happy. It's simple math. Follow it.
Brad
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.
Check out the average incomes for seniors. The latest figures show an annual income of $29,248, not anywhere near $70,000. Could YOU live on that? Also, senior poverty rates are at 9.7% Look up the real statistics instead of making up your own. Google is your friend. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.
snapshot
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
You mean the elderly making 70,000 per year of untaxed pension dollars? Why do folks keep using the term elderly istead of using the actual dollar amounts that will be taxed? And they use "taking" money from our kids when actually the policies will force education to be more fiscally responsible with the tax dollars they recieve. Unions will have to provide concessions to get the incentive money. That's what I call good fiscal management. All you folks screaming unfair just want to dig deeper into the taxpayers pockets by raising taxes.
Christopher LeClair
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
PLEASE JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP "RICK SNYDER MUST GO". I don't think he will actually "go" anywhere but it would be great to have people come together to talk about this man. I voted for him and was proud to vote for a Republican for the first time and have only been embarassed by my vote. What he is doing isn't right. This isn't about partisan politics.
Steve Pepple
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Several comments that violate our conversation guidelines have been disabled. Please make your point without personally attacking other commenters, and no swearing (not even masked) or name-calling.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:17 a.m.
Here's a game for everyone: <a href="http://janus.pscinc.com/budgetsim/Default.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://janus.pscinc.com/budgetsim/Default.aspx</a> It's called "balance the budget". Two ways to play, go with Snyder's recommendations or leave it as it is. The numbers are different, the costs are different, the goal is the same. Try it both ways. One way is fairly easy to balance, the other calls for major concessions somewhere. You figure it out. Even playing field. Test your convictions, your knowledge and your understanding of the issue. Good Luck.
gregory m
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 7:25 a.m.
BTW, I was never hired by a poor liberal and I doubt many are hiring right now.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:12 a.m.
And probably never hired by a poor conservative either. What's your point?
gregory m
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
Finally, we have a leader that runs this state as a buisness. I am a 34 yr year union member and have been sick about whom my dues have endorsed for years. The entitlement mentality that has gripped this state for too many years will hopefully come to an end. I strongly favor welcoming any incentives to buisnesses of any LEGAL kind to make our state their home. Liberal policies have shown major failures in every state and large city that I have read about, GO GET EM RICK..... The REAL TAXPAYERS ARE BEHIND YOU. I wish that Michigan would adopt just some of conservative Texas policies such as a part time legislature and the death penalty to start... MY 2 cents....
Domey
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
"GO GET EM RICK"? You don't yet realize who exactly it is that he is going to get, do you? Man, is your face going to be red when you find out! Other body parts may also be red.
clownfish
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 3:03 p.m.
Yes, run the govt like a business, raise revenue by going after those with the money at the same time reducing costs. Usually when a business is failing the owner takes a pay cut, or no salary.
Brad
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
So you will be willing to give up your "socialist" pension, the "outrageous" pay, and the "fat cat" benefits that your union has earned for you?
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:18 a.m.
And is this entitlement mentality you speak of, is that the notion that a worker can expect a livable wage? That he can expect a safe workplace? Governments were never intended to be run like a business. They are not a 'for profit' entity. Don't get confused by the rhetoric. i know this may be hard for you to understand, but a government is intended to be run like a government; to govern the people, not to make a profit. Two different things. The idea of running a government like a business is disingenuous at best. Another thing; REAL TAXPAYERS? Really. So the rest of us are just fake taxpayers? I believe you are a coupla cents short there.
godsbreath64
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 3:38 a.m.
"private session" is more commonly referred to as back-room, to be distinguished from open and in view. The one he speaks of coordinated in all likelihood, this subjugating participatory democracy to their minion hegemony which has been trending, if not legislating in recent days. It is answerable but only to him, still out of sight; while he remains employed in the public sector for his first ten weeks. While The Detroit Free Press, MSNBC and whoever else is properly casting the search-light squarely on Snyder at so audacious a time, only hometown excellence could dig and resolve the expose' he offered photo opportunity at Weber's Inn if donating robustly to the GOP. Through minions to him only , they can summarily void contractual civic obligation, undesirable election returns, and even charters of municipalities not in compliance. Hey, nice commercial.
margie
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 3:26 a.m.
The professional & working people of Michigan deserves "deep sympathy" not this Millionaire Gov. who is destroying most of the citizens and the public schools to benefit the few. Politicians who get elected into office by omission of their "real fiscal" plan deserve to be recalled by those same citizens.
treetowncartel
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 3:16 a.m.
Hey Rick, raise the fees for corporate filings and what not. They are very low compared to other states. Please to meet you, won't you guess my name?
GettingBluer
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 4:26 a.m.
The SEC controls corporate filings and their fees, not the state. As far as the state goes, there's a business license and that is about it, state-wise, except for corporate income taxes. Usually filing fees are pretty minimal. Where the feds and state make their money is on corporate income taxes and property taxes (some states charge a tax every year on the property, machinery and the like, that a company owns -- was that what you meant?).
Mike
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 1:32 a.m.
Michigan is the fastest Job creating state since Governor Rick took office numbers released today show 69,000 jobs created nation wide and 39,000 of those jobs in Michigan way to go Governor keep up the relentless positive action and media start reporting these facts
snapshot
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
It's possible that employers were waiting for the elections results and then opened up shop after, and because Snyder won. So yeah Bear, it could have happened overnight because of a flat tax, emergency manager powers to stave off the power mongering local pliticians and unions who helped drive fiscal failures. Yeah, the more I think about it..Snyder policies probazbly were responsible for the job creation.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:04 a.m.
Gee, and you think all that happened miraculously overnight since Snyder has been elected? In 2 months? Are you really trying to tell us that? once of the things that's been helping create jobs is the Michigan Film Tax Incentive that he's bent on axing! You are REALLY trying to convince people that Rick Snyder is responsible for ANY of those 39,000 jobs? Just how did they compile that info and publish it so quickly? You've got to be kidding! I cannot believe you got 8 people to back you up on this one. This is just plain silly! Now I begin to understand how this state is in such trouble; if there are people out there who believe this clap-trap.
mmppcc
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
Sympathy for you? How about sympathy for us? We're the ones who have to live with you for the next four years.
Monica R-W
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 8:02 a.m.
I do not think Snyder is going to last one year (officially a recall effort in MI can began 6 months after the general election or in this case-July 2011). He is already under 50 percent approval with only two and one-half months in office. Say what you want about Former Gov. Granholm but her numbers were nowhere near this bad until mid in her SECOND TERM. He can try to spin the issue all he wants but Michiganders are NOT going to STAND for a TAX HIKE for everyone expect friends and rich buddies of Snyder at the expense of taking food off of their table. An hurting our K-12 students by pulling money from schools for his corporation buddies fat-cats is NOT going to stand either. It is the way it is and supporters (still) of Snyder should take this information to heart....read it and weep. Anyway, the link to the latest WXYZ poll is below, via the Detroit Free Press. Ann Arbor.com can spin for Snyder all they want but a 44 percent approval rating less than two months into office....tells the true story of what Michiganders are thinking....especially Independents like myself. A recall looking better by the day, looking at this poll... <a href="http://bit.ly/hqp2Zj" rel='nofollow'>http://bit.ly/hqp2Zj</a>
Topher
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
I wish Snyder would make some promises to people that public cuts would be temporary - instead I have not heard this. He needs to reassure people that the end goal is for all people, both public and private to have a stronger, healthier economy. If Snyder doesn't reassure people then we need to be a bit more skeptical of his motives - especially pulling money from school districts (anyone in Education knows that $300/pupil is a huge amount and will have serious effects - teachers will stop doing all the things they do for free once they're stripped down) and then enacting a law that give him and his staff ultimate power to sever any contracts, including those gained through collective bargaining if those schools/cities can't balance and must claim emergency status. I'd like to believe that Rick isn't this sinister, but with only one debate I feel like I know very little about him or what he stands for. I want to back a plan that will work, but Snyder needs to show Michiganders that he's fully on the public's side.
Topher
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
1bit - I think you're right. What I think I mean is that I haven't seen enough public face time with him to get a good sense of him as a person. Watching him on Michigan State television and today with annarbor.com definitely helped me to get more of a feel for him. I felt like his debate and his State of the State were stiff and did not showcase his ability to speak or showcase his intelligence (which his informal speaking does). He is sticking to his proposal - I just wonder if the larger public fully understood his proposal from one debate.
1bit
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
With due respect, your post seems rather disingenuous. Would another debate or two really affect your opinion of him to any great extent? His positions were relatively clear and he seems to be sticking to what he proposed.
Porksword
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
Hey Cash, maybe if more people in this state had the drive and desire to make something of their lives, like Governor Snyder, instead of standing there with their hand out we wouldn't be in this mess.
snapshot
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 6:54 p.m.
Hey Bear, I think the public union members are on far more lucrative "state welfare" system than any single mom working two jobs and getting food stamps. It's time we killed some of those jobs for the public good. I figure most government employees only work about 2.5 hours a day while getting paid 8 hours.
cinnabar7071
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
Right on Pork! If you don't have a job you are part of the problem. And if your also on Gov't assistants you should know you are stealing from CHILDREN.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:23 a.m.
Al Capone had the drive & desire to make something of his life. I wouldn't want to emulate him, though. So, what's your point? Sad argument. Ad hominem attacks are lame. But they do serve the purpose of distracting one from the real issues. Just WHOM do you see standing there with their hand out? Cash? I don't think so. Do you know him? Do you know what he does for a living? Then why do you attack him like he's some hobo on your porch asking for a handout? Shame on you. Stick with the subject matter, please.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 8:49 a.m.
hey porky, how about if Snyder quits killing our jobs? Handouts? Are you serious? Really? I'm a working man. I pay taxes. what are you yelping about? You think you & Snyder are the only one's working? You think anyone who disagrees must be on some kind of welfare? Where are you getting these ideas from? Are you serious?
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 10:46 p.m.
Michigan at the bottom of economic growth for 10 years is long enough! Posters should stop tossing insults and threats and instead throw some serious ideas. Snyder is dealing with serious problems - problems Jenny kicked down the road. Fix Michigan and we all get to eat again. I am a taxpayer and I am broke.
bugjuice
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
Most likely you still have a computer, a cell phone, cable tv, a roof over your head and food to eat. You haven't hit bottom.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:06 a.m.
I'm a taxpayer too. So what? I'm broke also and the governor is actually taking bread off of my table. So what's your point. Granholm didn't "kick" any problems down the road. BTW, the Michigan Film Tax Incentive was a bipartisan project, and we've become one of the fastest job creating states in the nation, mostly due to stuff that got done from both sides of the aisle in the past decade. The trend has been reversing. Now Snyder wants to kill the mechanisms that have been paving the way for that recovery. Just when it's starting to recover. You want numbers? I'll give them to you. But first, why don't you stop complaining and show me the evidence for your opinions here? I don't think you have anything but hearsay to offer. Here's just one small sliver of positive info on the Michigan Film Incentive Program: <a href="http://www.visitdetroit.com/images/stories/_blog/michigan_film_incentive_studyf.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.visitdetroit.com/images/stories/_blog/michigan_film_incentive_studyf.pdf</a> Here's another, earlier study done at MSU: <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MSU_Economic_Impact_Study_269263_7.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MSU_Economic_Impact_Study_269263_7.pdf</a> These figures don't lie. It's an honest and much needed attempt to diversify Michigan's economy to ensure our economic survival. Snyder's misguided actions to axe this program that's WORKING is just plain WRONG! You disagree, fine. Show me the numbers, show me your evidence. Stuff other than gossip, innuendo & propaganda. Show me the numbers that back up your argument.
John B.
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
How 'bout making the super-rich pay their fair share, instead of lowering their taxes further, and then maybe not balancing the budget on the backs of what little is left of the hard-working middle-class, as well as the most vulnerable segments of the population? Nah, that would make too much sense. Never mind. Let them eat cake.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
You're doing a great job Rick, balance the buget by any means necessary You have my full support.
Bear
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 8:46 a.m.
How about he raises your taxes and axes YOUR job?
Cash
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.
Sympathy? With your millions and dumping on the working poor to give to the richest Michigan corporations you honestly think citizens feel SORRY for you??? I have a lot of feelings for you right now...sympathy isn't one of them.
grye
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
Of course the consistent message I continue to hear from those that don't agree with Snyder's plan is tax the rich, tax the business, tax, tax, tax. The more taxes, the happier we will be. No plan on how to create an environment to expand businesses and spawn new economic growth that would create more jobs and move the state forward. Just tax those with money and all will be well.
tommy_t
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
Not to worry - you ain't gettin' any.