Posted on Tue, May 10, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
60% of Michigan voters rate Rick Snyder's job performance poor or fair, survey shows
By Cindy Heflin
A poll released this morning shows a lot of dissatisfaction with the policies of Gov. Rick Snyder, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The poll by EPIC-MRA of Lansing showed 60 percent of voters ranked Snyder’s job performance as poor or “just fair,” with 35 percent saying “poor.” The poll of 600 voters was conducted April 27-May 3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Six percent of voters said he was doing an excellent job and 26 percent rated his job performance pretty good.
What do you think of Snyder's job performance? Take our poll.
Comments
Booradley
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 8 p.m.
We got in this mess because of greed. Unions had to have big salaries and all their benefits paid by tax payers. We can't go back to the same old spending. You think by not cutting spending you're going to get out of this mess? Snyder is doing what has to be done and none of us like it. My life is half over so I'll be long gone, dead and buried but I don't want to leave this financial mess for my grandkids. By the way, has anyone ever showed where all the money really goes when it comes to education?
KittyCAT
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 8:47 p.m.
Everyone needs to wake up and realize that some one has to make the changes....we wanted change and he is giving it to us. Geez maybe we should sit and wait for all of the problems in the world to fix themselves....everyone needs to get a grip. We cant continue living and spending when we simply do not have the money to do so.
maallen
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.
Johnny Q, Do you realize where that "surplus funds" of the School Aid Fund is going? It is still going toward schools! It is being shifted from the K-12 schools to the Universities and community colleges! There is a 1.2 billion dollar shortfall in the general fund for the universities and community colleges. So those surplus funds from the school aid fund is doing exactly what it is supposed to do, fund schools! Interesting point to make is that Granholm did the exact same thing last year when she was governor. She took over $200 million from the School Aid Fund and gave it to the community colleges. Did the democrats complain? Nope not a peep. Now all of a sudden the democrats are all upset that Snyder did the exact same thing! And at the same time, Granholm raised our taxes and business taxes which cause businesses to leave Michigan, caused businesses not to hire, etc. Now, do we want to go back to Granholm ways and continue to be blown away? Or do we embrace change, Obama kept saying over and over, and find ourselves in a better position than we have in the past 8 years?
John Q
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
"Michigan is in debt. If Michigan had the money, then we wouldn't be in debt. We do not have the money. What part don't you understand?" Synder is cutting funding for public schools. There's a surplus of money in the School Aid Fund that pays for public schools. Show me where there's "no money". Snyder is raising taxes on the poor and seniors. Because we're in debt? No, so he can fund a business tax break. Again, you can keep repeating the lies. But you can't provide the facts that show otherwise.
maallen
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
Johnny Q, Which part of "We can't continue living and spending when we simply do not have the money to do so" is a lie? Is spending a lie? Do not have the money a lie? Enlighten me please. Michigan is in debt. If Michigan had the money, then we wouldn't be in debt. We do not have the money. What part don't you understand?
John Q
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 3:22 a.m.
"We cant continue living and spending when we simply do not have the money to do so." Can you stop repeating this lie? Snyder is cutting funding for public schools where there is a surplus in the School Aid Fund. Snyder is raising taxes on seniors with pensions and everyone else to pay for a business tax, not because "we do not have the money". Snyder is going to take money out of the hands of people who spend it to give businesses of all kinds a tax break. That's what's going on here. None of it has anything to do with "we don't have the money".
Awakened
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
Let me caveat this post by saying that I think the EFM law goes too far and the budget proposed by the Governor gives me gas. But... He has yet to appoint an EFM. The widely reported Benton Harbor EFM was appointed under the old law and under the Granholm administration. The use of the new powers by that EFM is cautionary. He has proposed a budget. It has not been passed but if passed does not go into effect until the fall. Meaning that if we visit this in a year we will only have six months data on its impact on the state economy. So.... Despite my scepticism about the plan I will wait to judge.
Tim Belcher
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.
Well Awakened that certainly is an enlightening comment. Since those polled were voters, you are saying 85% of voters are morons. So using that logic, 85% of the people who voted for Mr. Snyder would be morons also. Makes sense and the other 15% would be the rich folk that will benefit most from his misguided efforts.
Awakened
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
<a href="http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/michigan_voter_turnout_pegged.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/michigan_voter_turnout_pegged.html</a>
Awakened
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
Not 'morons.' Just unengaged. Have you seen the statistics on how few Americans can name the Vice-President. Or their Senators or Representative. Some vote. The engaged all vote.
Awakened
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:37 a.m.
I think these polls are pointless. First, checking the pulse every couple of months really has more to do with politics than policy. Second, I am personally convinced based upon years of interviewing people on all sorts of topics that 85% or more of people polled know almost nothing about the issues; on any topic.
Veracity
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 5:06 a.m.
A few readers commenting have misconstrued the statistics, that is, the correct rate for Snyder's "poor" performance is 60% and not 35%. The annarbor.com poll shows similar statistics but the Detroit Free Press' poll reports a 73% "poor" rating. Though both former Governor Granholm and President Obama have seen initial positive ratings decline, I do believe that neither lost favor as quickly or as much as has Governor Snyder. Rick Snyder certainly "speaks softly," like Teddy Roosevelt, but, unlike our 26th President, the Governor uses his "big stick" (that is, the Republican legislature) to smash the middle class and the poor .
walker101
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 5:03 a.m.
What a bunch of whiners, Obama has been in office over 2 years and we are in no better shape today than we were when the other guy was in office. How about rating him? What would you expect from this media outlet, I consider the source.
maallen
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Townie, I can't believe you actually brought Bin Laden into this subject. But since you brought it up.....it was under Bush that we got the lead to find where Bin Laden was hiding. If you know anything about CIA work, you would then realize that it takes years and painstaking follow ups in order to get the job done. Now with that said, both Bush and Obama should be congratulated along with our brave soldiers. The democrats were in control of the purse strings that brought us $2 trillion debt and Tarp. In which Obama was a part of! In two years, Obama has created more TEMPORARY jobs. And in just 19 months, Obama has added to the debt more than any other president. Yeah, looking at reality is never fun.
Townie
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
Dubya left a HUGE hole -- do you remember (nope) that Dubya started with a budget surplus and left us with a $2 TRILLION debt and a financial mess (he bailed out the corrupt banksters with the TARP, not OBAMA). Bush had how many years to bring Bin Laden to justice and...? Two years - Obama's created more jobs than the Bush 'tax cuts' did in 8 years. I guess he has to create miracles to satisfy you. Try looking at reality for a change.
John Q
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
Snyder cuts funding for education, imposes a huge tax hike on low income workers and seniors and forces a smaller tax increase on most everyone else. He takes a lot of money out of the state's economy to give tax breaks to business owners. How does that grow the state's economy or help people get jobs?
GoBlue1984
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 3:35 a.m.
It doesn't.
1959Viking
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:57 a.m.
Doing what is best in the long run is never popular in the short term.
John
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
Too bad he is doing neither.
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:40 a.m.
If only Slick would do something that is best for the long run.
AMOC
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
As bad as these poll numbers are, Snyder is doing better in this survey than Obama was doing in a similar nation-wide survey the week before last. 35% negative opinions of Snyder vs 41% negative opinions of Obama, though the two polls weren't exactly comparable. Just sayin'. Obama got a boost from the successful operation to assassinate Osama Bin Laden, but that's already fading. If Snyder and the legislature deliver a balanced budget before June 1, I'll up my assessment from "Just Fair" to "Good".
Rachel
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Recall Snyder.
speravi
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
So long as teachers under any reform he cooks up are allowed to stay in their jobs with similar public evaluations.
GoBlue1984
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
Wow. When 35% of the people surveyed think you're doing a "poor" job as Governor, you're in trouble. The possible poll answers were: Poor, Just Fair, Pretty Good, Excellent. If the answers were in a graph you would see a big portion of data on the left side over "poor" and "just fair" with data trailing off over "pretty good" and "excellent"... that's absolutely not what Governor Snyder wanted to see. Thank God Michigan voters are smart enough to realize they made a mistake. Let's just hope they remember it during the next election.
John Q
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Snyder is polling poorly he was forced to reveal what he refused to reveal during the campaign which is that tax breaks for businesses are to be financed by tax increases for the poor and the elderly and by cutting funding for schools, even as the school aid fund runs a surplus. Mr. "Tough Nerd" didn't have to guts or the honesty to say that during the campaign.
DennisP
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
When Granholm started in 2003 she had an approval rating of 60% with a "fair or poor" rating of about 41%. See: <a href="http://www.ippsr.msu.edu/publications/b0304.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ippsr.msu.edu/publications/b0304.pdf</a> When she finished in 2010, she had an approval rating of 32% and a 68% disapproval rating. See: <a href="http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2010/02/01/mi-gov-poll-republicans-favored-as-dems-search-for-candidate/" rel='nofollow'>http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2010/02/01/mi-gov-poll-republicans-favored-as-dems-search-for-candidate/</a> All this goes to show two things. First, approval rating polls don't have a whole lot of substance--especially when you've been in office for only 5 mos.--because they are greatly affected by all sorts of conditions with the economy being the main one. Second, it's not how you start, but how you finish that counts...
Cash
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Yes but he will finish as soon as the recall is done, which shouldn't take long. So we might not have time for another poll so this will have to do.
mun
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
How shocking! Must be that act of despotism masquerading as the emergency financial manager.
Arlene
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
Give him a chance - no one could have straightened out all the damage done by the past administration in 8 years in less than 6 months. And yes things HAVE to be cut. The good old democrates tried throwing money at all our problems and only got us in deeper (just like they are doing in Washington now). Wake up people, if you haven't got it you can't spend it!
John
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
We've seen this movie before. It failed under Reagan and under Bush 1 and 2 and ends with massive deficits and a recession. Fooled me once (and all that).
mun
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:12 p.m.
"Wake up people, if you haven't got it you can't spend it!" Too bad nobody told Wall Street that when they crashed the economy in 2008.
Cash
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
Sure he is spending it...giving to the rich corporate pals while raising taxes up to 100% on the poor. Really nice guy. Yup, that's your pal Rick.
Will
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
Perhaps if Snyder demanded an end to the free lifetime health care benefits for all state legislators and their families after only 6 years of service and retirement at 55, he might become a little more popular. People on pensions and paying towards health care see the hypocrisy.
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.
The problem is that due to the world he lives in, Slick wouldn't be affected by any of these cuts. Despite running Gateway into the ground, like so many CEOs, he remains wealthy. As the nature of the changes he has implemented and proposed shows, Slick finds it very easy to give to the rich and take from the poor.
treetowncartel
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.
And Judges I might add.
Veracity
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
L.C. Burgundy, Towny, Mickey Mouse, Gary Hann and Ric: Exactly what has Governor Snyder done so far to create jobs for the 450,000 unemployed in Michigan and how is he improving the economy, our two major problems? Do you really believe that attacking teachers and cutting financial support for our schools is the proper formula for successfully preparing future workers? Is disenfranchising citizens the just way to resolve local financial difficulties? Do you really believe the myth that reducing taxes for the rich will create jobs?
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.
L.C. So you really believe the trickle down lie? Do you really think that putting more profits in the hands of the wealthy and cutting back on school funding to pay for it is good for job creation?
Awakened
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:43 a.m.
I don't believe in the myth that our economy will improve. Workers are cheaper elsewhere. Until the global labor market stabilizes the US will decline as others grow. This is inevitable. Thinking some government plan will change this is delusionary.
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
> Exactly what has Governor Snyder done so far to create jobs for the 450,000 unemployed in Michigan and how is he improving the economy, our two major problems? He is proposing a balanced 2-year budget without temporary gimmicks that will eliminate the MBT and decrease levels of taxation on primarily small businesses. He's not a magician and has no wand to wave in 4 months' time to improve an economic situation, especially given how bleak the national picture remains. > Is disenfranchising citizens the just way to resolve local financial difficulties? It's the best option for communities and school systems that don't understand what it means to manage spending. EFM is the best solution of many decidedly suboptimal solutions - the best good solution would be for local officials to actually manage their budgets. When they are unwilling or unable to the point of being unable to perform their core functions, that's when intervention is needed. > Do you really believe the myth that reducing taxes for the rich will create jobs? Do you realize that taxes on businesses must necessarily be paid for by consumers? Corporations and companies are not real people. All taxes are paid for at the end of the day by people like you. All of them. Why do you believe that tax hikes on small businesses will create jobs?
Mike
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
Change is easy to say but hard to do. Many would have him do nothing and watch Rome burn
johnnya2
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
And others like Rick Snyder would pour gasoline on the fire and then come in and try to buy the property on the cheap.
Ric
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
I give him an A+.
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:48 a.m.
Talk about grade inflation!
Enso
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
I give him an F. So what?
David Briegel
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.
You can't vote for yourself!!
Grant
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
How many of us would have voted for Snyder if we knew about the details of his hidden agenda?
Cash
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
No one I know. Thus he will be recalled.
ThaKillaBee
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
We were listening, but we never heard anything about cost cutting being one part of his ability to DISSOLVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
Mike
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
Most of us. His agenda was to cut costs. How can you say that was hidden. You must have not been listening.
Paul
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
60% of Michigan residents shouldn't be aloud to vote if they haven't completed a High School Degree.
Enso
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
You are entitled to that opinion. And I don't think anyone that makes over $200,000 a year should have the right to vote... So let's play "Arbitrary Opinions!"
Micky Mouse
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
What a misleading headline by the free press. Should of said 35% disapprove of Gov. Snyder's performance. Detroit Free Press should be ashamed. Easy to tell where the free press stands. But, is not the detroit papers union breakers how we easily forget. You could not pay me to look at or buy a Detroit paper Ann Arbor News should learn from this not to take sides.
David Briegel
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
That ship already sailed! A2.com is Slickster.com!
Micky Mouse
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
So right you are.
Floyd Griffey
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
Uhhh, the Ann Arbor News is no longer in business.
Smiley
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
A spendthrift is never happy when his/her credit cards are cut up. It's just a fact of life.
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 10:56 a.m.
A better metaphor: No one is happy when they are robbed. Slick's tax policy gave to himself and his wealthy friends while the growth of their wealth just accelerates. Our children will receive a poorer education. There are fewer police and fireman to protect. An oh yes, if you try to stretch your budget to provide some of these needed services, you will be taken over by some 2 day trained Slick chosen dictator.
John
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
A "spendthrift"? Is that what you call someone who climbs into bed with rich CEOs and lines their pockets at the expense of middle class Michigan? He hasn't "cut up" any credit cards, he's just de-funding schools and giving his buddies the windfall. I'm sure they'll just outsource to Asia like Snyder did.
towny
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
Just another example of doomsayers crying about the sky falling. 35% is not bad out of 100%. MEA and Unions must have some pull at free press to paint ugly picture. Gov. Snyder is doing a great job keep up the good work of getting this state back on right road.
maallen
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
Really Ed's Ghost? You need to check your facts before you write. Scott Walker's approval rating is at 43%. And now businesses are moving in to Wisconsin. Good Night indeed!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
"Lots of other political figures have a higher level of dissatisfaction johnnya2." Yeah. Scott Walker in Wisconsin. Good Night and Good Luck
Sparky79
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:19 p.m.
"Unions must have some pull at free press to paint ugly picture." Really? Apparently you haven't read any of the Free Press Michigan football coverage over the past three years. When it comes to negative spin to fit their agenda, look no further than the Freep!
David Briegel
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
denial is not a river in Egypt!
DonBee
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Lots of other political figures have a higher level of dissatisfaction johnnya2.
johnnya2
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
35% is not bad? Really? Really? REALLY? What scale are you grading on? That is a failure by ANY standard other than a baseball hitter.
Cash
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
Obviously they didn't take this poll at the Chamber of Commerce or the Country Club. Us average folks don't cotton to stealing from the poor to give to the rich. We're funny that way.
RayA2
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 4:17 p.m.
L.C. Everyone not as wealthy as Slick.
David Briegel
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 3:13 a.m.
Grandma!
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Who, exactly, is Rick Snyder stealing money from?
Enso
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
Great point.
Greggy_D
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
So if 35 % say he is doing poor, doesn't that mean 65% thinks he is doing fair or better? Just saying.
David Briegel
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
Especially one who snuck in with such a wide margin. Gee, where did he go wrong??
John
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
Um, in case you hadn't noticed, there was just one negative option (Poor) and three non-negative options (Just Fair, Pretty Good, Excellent). Most of us expect more out of our elected officials than "Just Fair," which is a pretty bad ranking in my opinion, kind of like a "C" letter grade.
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Doing what has to be done to move beyond the stagnant quo is rarely popular.
ThaKillaBee
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1 p.m.
L.C. - You're right. Teachers and firefights should just find better jobs, and stop complaining. There are so many to be had right now. And once they find the jobs, your kids will be packed in with another 100 kids because there will be so few teachers. And if your house catches on fire, let the private sector deal with it!! It all makes sense.
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
If the teachers and firefighters are being so aggrieved, they should find better employment. They certainly already receive excellent government representation. And millionaires (or "small businessmen" you might call them), although you hate them, create jobs that fund the government. The state cannot sustain itself by guaranteeing full employment and generous guaranteed tax-free pensions to state and local government employees, no matter how dedicated they may be (and most of them are) to their work.
Enso
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
Cutting taxes on the rich while raising them on the middle class and poor IS the status quo... what are you talking about... Going AGAINST the status quo would be raising the taxes on the rich.
ThaKillaBee
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
It's a dramatic way to say it, but it is accurate.
Smiley
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
Atticus - That's a blatent misrepresentation of what's actually being done.
Atticus F.
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
Giving tax breaks to Millionaires so that we might neglect teachers, firefighters and road maininence, is hardly "what needs to be done".
Atticus F.
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
Told ya so!