Timeline of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's first six months in office
• Also see: Lansing Bureau correspondent Peter Luke analyzes Gov. Snyder's first six months in office
Timeline of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s first six months in office.
Jan. 1: Inaugural address: “The reinvention of Michigan must not leave anyone behind.”
Jan. 8: Brian Zahra to replace Maura Corrigan, retaining conservative Supreme Court majority.
Jan. 19: State of State speech lays out “dashboard” for change, endorses new bridge to Canada.
Jan. 26: Teacher tenure reform introduced in House.
This photo released by the office of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder shows the governor as he signs the state’s $47.4 billion budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year as legislators look on in Lansing on June 21, 2011.
AP Photo | Michigan Governor's Office
Feb. 17: Snyder’s budget proposes business tax cuts, increased taxes on seniors.
March 16: Snyder signs legislation giving broad new powers to emergency financial managers.
March 16: Plan would mandate public worker pay 20 percent of health insurance premiums.
March 17: Legislature approves Snyder’s request to repeal retail item pricing.
March 21: Local governments to compete for $200 million pool of “best practices” funding.
April 12: Snyder compromises on taxing seniors’ pensions; rate to be graduated.
April 13: Thousands protest at the Capitol, one of several rallies in recent weeks.
April 27: Snyder education agenda gives more choice to students and raises the bar for teachers.
April 28: House narrowly passes $1.7 billion in business tax cuts.
May 10: Bill restores limited tax credits for working poor; still averages $400 less for families.
May 5: House narrowly approves $430 cut for K-12 and 15 percent cut for higher education.
May 12: Legislature narrowly approves business tax cuts and income tax changes to pay for it.
May 19: Final deal on budget announced; restores some K-12 aid, $255 million for rainy day fund.
May 25: Snyder signs tax overhaul into law. “Something fundamentally had to happen,” he says.
May 26: Final approval of 2012 state budget, four months ahead of deadline.
May 31: Bipartisan committee to tackle education reform.
June 2: Pure Michigan Business Connect to provide $3 billion in private help for new businesses.
June 7: Overhaul to review professional licensing for duplicative or obsolete rules.
June 15: Constitutionality of pension tax to be reviewed by Supreme Court.
June 16: House approves scaling back film incentives.
June 30: Legislature approves teacher tenure reform emphasizing effectiveness over seniority.
Comments
Richard Lake
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 1:41 a.m.
A petition is circulating now to REPEAL PUBLIC ACT 4 of 2011, "The Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act". <a href="http://michiganforward.org/?page_id=678" rel='nofollow'>http://michiganforward.org/?page_id=678</a> <a href="http://action.afscme.org/c/346/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=773" rel='nofollow'>http://action.afscme.org/c/346/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=773</a> Petitions Are or Will Be Circulating Soon to Recall These Members of the Michigan Legislature: Kurt Damrow Nancy Jenkins John R. Moolenaar James "Jase" Bolger Joel Johnson Howard Walker Tom Casperson Kevin Cotter Randy Richardville Bruce Caswell Mike Shirkey Mike Nofs Phil Potvin John Proos Al Pscholka Arlan Meekhof And petitions Are Circulating to Recall Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. <a href="http://firericksnyder.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://firericksnyder.org/</a> <a href="http://michiganforward.org/?page_id=940" rel='nofollow'>http://michiganforward.org/?page_id=940</a> <a href="http://progressmichigan.org/democracy.html" rel='nofollow'>http://progressmichigan.org/democracy.html</a> <a href="http://www.mea.org/tipping-point-house-bills-4625-4628" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mea.org/tipping-point-house-bills-4625-4628</a>
alternativeview99
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
I think what I find so offensive is not that the middle class has been attacked but the fact that those attacking it really expect the middle class to appreciate and embrace becoming second class citizens. Now that Snyder (or the people behind him because I don't think this man has the smarts to envision this by himself or lead such a movement) have put through pretty much most of their agenda to strip the middle class of its wealth and dignity, I am amazed at how angry they are about people leaving Michigan. Why do they find it so difficult to understand that the middle class is not willing to accept becoming a second class citizen in support of an elite class of people who they do not view as superior or deserving of their support? Why be angry? The choice to not agree with such a system and move to better climates, (taking your tax dollars with you), is nothing more than a free market at work. The question now becomes for Snyder, "How are you going to attract business to Michigan? It won't be businesses that need a a climate of healthy labor relations. The middle class worker is now at war with Snyder's idea of a business climate. Perhaps you will bring in businesses that do not require workers but simply sell off our state resources, like oil & gas through hydrofracking, without regard to the the pollution they leave behind. Already, this legislature has passed laws paving the way. Laws now prohibit our agencies from enforcing environmental laws beyond a federal standard. Sounds good in words but the federal law has the Halliburton loophole. The Great Lakes are at risk of being polluted with that profit from the extration leaving town long before the clean up effort gets underway. And, local communities no longer get tax revenues from wind turbines through property taxes. Was this a payoff? Wow! A business that isn't profitable unless taxpayers pick up the tab for costs. Free markets at work. Free market at work?
alternativeview99
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 11:44 a.m.
@daveguy Good point. Perhaps the film industry isn't oil and gas. It isn't about supporting business. It isn't about the economy. It is about supporting certain businesses and having the economy benefit certain classes of people. It isn't wrong or right. It is about which you prefer..
walker101
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
"Gee" and I guess our President is doing a better job, I thought he was going to end all wars, now were in 3, I guess he was going to create 4 million jobs for all, unemployment still at the highest and no sight of a turn for the better, I thought he was going to make changes so we can prosper and enjoy life, gas at an all time high. He's played more than 17 rounds of golf this year, traveled to 30 countries, spent his first year trying to initiate his Obama care and now we our in debt 3 times more than when Bush was in office and now he is campaigning to be re-elcted for 2012 . And you have the audacity to recall a governor in less than 6 months in office because he wants to cut the fat from the union die hards and public employees who do not want to make concessions? Something is right with this picture or maybe I missing something from your article?
David Paris
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
But, you do know that Fox News viewers are the least informed viewers in almost every poll, right? For example: we are so far in debt BECAUSE Bush was in office. See, Fox doesn't tell you that. Snyder has done nothing for the people that elected him, yet business has gotten all the breaks- Inaugural address: "The reinvention of Michigan must not leave anyone behind." Yet, is there a single citizen who hasn't been left behind? Go ahead, review his accomplishments above, let me know where we benefit from his Governorship, I just don't see it!
John B.
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.
The RepubliKans are destroying our way of life (as they have been for thirty years now) by repeatedly cutting taxes for the wealthiest two percent at the expense of the other ninety-eight percent, coddling the Corporations, removing longstanding safety nets and regulation, and starting unjust wars while lowering said taxes. Waging wars without increasing revenues, or indeed asking for any type of sacrifice whatsoever from the general citizenry, is unheard of in this country's recent history. We do not have a spending problem, we have an artificially-manufactured revenue problem. The result is that the wealthiest 400 households now have as much income as the bottom 150 Million households. The disparity in net worth is even greater. The great Post-WWII GI-based middle class that made us the envy of the free world has been systematically attacked and nearly destroyed by the RepubliKans' strategies. It is now time to wake up and take back our Republic, while we still have a chance to do so. Anyone that believes that the RepubliKan party cares about anyone other than the mega-rich is fooling themselves. This has been plainly apparent for some time now. If people continue to be ignorant enough to continue to believe the lies of the RepubliKans and vote for them, then God help the other 98% of us.
alternativeview99
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.
@walker... No, rich people are not the problem any more than the American worker. Let's face it, there are rich people who make a contribution and deserve their wealth and then there are rich people who have gained wealth by enacting laws and regulations that favor an allocation of wealth to them. If you believe that a system that allocates 90% of the nation's income to 10% of the population causing 50% of the wealth to be vested in 5% of the population....okay....we have nothing to argue about. I respect your right to have an opinion based on value and belief. I just don't share it. But, at the same time, let's not forget the abuses of unions and how some workers used the protections offered by these systems to pick up a pay check for little or no work. My point is that it is not business or unions that are good or bad. It is how the people in control of them use them. Unfortunately, it takes work by good people to make these institutions work. When they are neglected, they get taken over by the wrong people and abused. It isn't necessarily Republican or Democrat. I see awful and abusing people in both parties.
walker101
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.
And the democrats are real winners, even though they were running the house when we started our decline, bigger government is not the solution, rich people are not the problem, it's your leaders that need to stop spending money we do not have. Look at what's happening in Greece and all the other socialist countries in Europe, it dose not work when the government has total control.
Daveguy
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
I gotta ask - why would a republican 'scale back' tax breaks to the film industry when it was clearly bringing business to Michigan. Simply looking through annarbor.com finds you ample articles detailing local shooting locations for movies being filmed here. I saw Neve Cambell walk into a hair salon once during Scream 4's filming. Not that a haircut saves an economy, but it's something. Maybe I'm just over-simplifying things in my head, but I typically read 'Republican' as 'Tax-Cuts to Business', where this seems to detract from that heavily.
Mark
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
I didn't vote for Gov. Snyder, but he was elected by my peers fair and square, which means I am obliged to respect the will of the majority. The Governor's confidence in a conservative approach to policy is admirable. I'm not an expert on public policy, and history has shown that what we have been doing hasn't been working so well. So I say let's try another approach. I support the Governor, whose passion is to lead our state to prosperity again.
zip the cat
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
Sign the petition!!!! Why? I for one want nothing to do with another granny type person or worse yet another BIG MOUTH BENERO I think he's doing just what he said he was going to do. I also think all you whiners and complainers don't have a snowball chance in hell of collecting 800.000 signers by August.
John Reed
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
Mr Luke, Since this piece isn't listed as an editorial but instead as "news", I would assume that your intention in writing it was to inform your readers; however, it comes across as rather partisan. Please work harder at not taking sides when presenting the news. This isn't "The Rachel Maddow Show" or "The O'Reilly Factor" - we're looking for facts and unbiased analysis here. Thank you.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Yes, because reporting facts--dates, events, and numbers--must be seen as editorializing. Maybe it looks like an editorial because, all put in one place, we come to realize how one-sided his administration has been? Good Night and Good Luck
Fire Rick
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 1 p.m.
Wow. Amazing how much one person can do to destroy an entire state in just 6 months! Petitions to recall Rick Snyder and repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law are available and ready to be signed! You can sign both petitions at the following locations and times: - Ann Arbor Farmer's Market - every Saturday (8:00 am - 12:00 pm) - Ann Arbor Summer Festival (near Bell Tower) - July 3-6, 8, 9 (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm) - Ann Arbor Art Fair - July 20-22 (8:00 am - 8:00 pm) and July 23 (10:00 am - 6:00 pm) - located in the non-profit booths on Liberty between Fifth and Division <a href="http://firericksnyder.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://firericksnyder.org/</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885" rel='nofollow'>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885</a> <a href="http://repealpa4.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://repealpa4.org/</a> <a href="http://michiganforward.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://michiganforward.org/</a> ** For those who are still on the fence . . . If we get enough valid signatures, it doesn't mean Snyder is automatically recalled. It only means that voters are given the option to recall him in the November election. If the vote to recall Snyder succeeds in November, then the Lieutenant Governor takes over until a special election can be called in February. Even if you are still on the fence, SIGN THE PETITION so you will have the option of recalling him in November.
nixon41
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
Well, if the democrats give everything away, the republicans have to pull the strings back to straighten things out. aplain & simple. Wake up folks !!!
John B.
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
@MAS: That's an easy question to answer: The RepubliKans are destroying our way of life (as they have been for thirty years now) by repeatedly cutting taxes for the wealthiest two percent at the expense of the other ninety-eight percent, coddling the Corporations, removing longstanding safety nets and regulation, and starting unjust wars while lowering said taxes. Waging wars without increasing revenues, or indeed asking for any type of sacrifice whatsoever from the general citizenry, is unheard of in this country's recent history. We do not have a spending problem, we have an artificially-manufactured revenue problem. The result is that the wealthiest 400 households now have as much income as the bottom 150 Million households. The disparity in net worth is even greater. The great Post-WWII GI-based middle class that made us the envy of the free world has been systematically attacked and nearly destroyed by the RepubliKans' strategies. It is now time to wake up and take back our Republic, while we still have a chance to do so. Anyone that believes that the RepubliKan party cares about anyone other than the mega-rich is fooling themselves. This has been plainly apparent for some time now. If people continue to be ignorant enough to continue to believe the lies of the RepubliKans and vote for them, then God help the other 98% of us.
MAS
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
Derrick Forshee: How are Republicans destroying our way of life? Just because state government had been spending more money than it had under a Democratic governor and was able to do a temporary fix through the federal government "stimulus" law doesn't mean we could keep on spending like we were forever. Yes, the state had to wake up to reality. Michigan had to balance its budget and the two biggest drivers are education and medical spending. Snyder decided not to cut medical spending and reduced education spending. Those are tough choices to make. I wouldn't wait to be in his position but that's what he was elected to do.
Derrick Forshee
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 11:21 a.m.
Wake up to what? Wake up and realize the truth of the matter is that republicans like Snyder are systematically destroying our way of life. Is that what you mean?