Governor Calls for Significant Government Restructuring in State of the State Address

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder delivered the first State of the State address of his second term Tuesday evening. The Governor briefly outlined the improvements in Michigan since he first took office, recent legislative successes, and called for significant reforms to state government.

You can view the entire speech and read more detail here.

The Governor stated that he viewed his first term as being largely about putting the state back on sound fiscal ground and that his second term would be more about making changes to government so that it works better for people.

The most significant announcement from his remarks was the merger of the Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS), a proposal he titled “the River of Opportunity,” targeting reforms in the manner services are delivered to those needing assistance in returning to mainstream life. The new Department of Health and Human Services will be huge – some 14,000 employees and roughly 46 percent of the state’s entire $52.3 billion budget, but will be built to “improve lives, not maintain programs” as the Governor stated.

Other highlights included:

· Efforts to improve skilled trades training (Governor Snyder made it a point on Wednesday that funding for this program is a top priority and is safe even though his office is busy preparing some $330 million in cuts due to the projected budget shortfall);

· A new energy agency to coordinate environmental, regulatory, and economic issues;

· Regional prosperity teams for economic development; and

· Improved school management system.

The Governor also took time during his speech to call for support of the road funding sales tax increase package that will be before voters in May, asking citizens to vote yes.

Not much time was spent in discussing energy and the environment, or the Governor’s mention of a prescription drug addiction problem in Michigan; however, the Governor pointed to special messages coming on each in the next few months.

Finally, the Governor did mention that he encourages the Legislature to continue a conversation on expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, decrying discrimination in any form; however, he did not go as far as to clarify his position on the issue or request that the Legislature pass an expansion.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, January 23, 2015 10:11 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters