Gov. Rick Snyder Connects to Washtenaw County Residents Through Virtual Town Hall

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder fielded questions from across the state in a Tuesday night, hosted by state Rep. Mark Ouimet, R-Scio Township.

More than 20 people attended the meeting at the Washtenaw County Intermediate School District in Ann Arbor. They could see the governor on a screen as well as other citizens at sites in Lansing, Lapeer, Grand Rapids and Montcalm.

Snyder fielded questions on topics ranging from a new bridge to Canada to casinos and taxes. All of his answers were tinged with his themes of reinventing Michigan and cleaning up messes now instead of kicking the problem down the road.

The brokenness of the current political system is wasting time and resources, Snyder said.

“It’s always about fighting,” he said. “It’s about negative energy.”

The state can feel good as it continues to climb back to respectability, the governor said.

“The good part is we are making a major comeback,” he said. “We were at the bottom.”

He said the proposed bridge linking Canada and Michigan is an economic boon to the state. The bridge was not a campaign issue for him, but he said he did his homework and learned that one-third of the North American economy is held within a circle from Chicago to Montreal and Michigan is in the center. The constraints are the five Great Lakes, so more crossings are needed, he said.

Opposing a new bridge are the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, Snyder said. He said they have spent $5 million campaigning against it.

Snyder defends pension decision

The governor defended his decision to tax pensions for some people as a way to correct a problem that began when the state income tax was instituted in the 1960s. Since he doesn’t believe in “kicking problems down the road,” he wants to clean up the mess.

He said problems arose when public employee pensions were exempted from taxes. A few years later, some private pensions were exempted as well.

Today that has created a problem where they exemptions are shifting the tax burden to younger generations.

“We want to encourage our kids to stay in Michigan,” he said.

Also, some older workers don’t have retirement income or not the right kind of retirement income, so they are getting taxed on all of it, Snyder said. In 10 years the number of retired people in the state will swell.

If the older generation doesn’t have to pay, that will put an undue burden on younger workers who will likely leave the state in droves.

To address the inequities, seniors 67 and older will have their retirement income exempted, while workers 60 and younger will be under the new system.

Social Security will not be subject to income taxes nor will $20,000 for a single person or $40,000 for a couple, he said.

On other questions, Snyder:

• Said the state has to do a better taking care of veterans. He said the state ranked 53rd in veteran care – “behind Guam.” His administration is working to provide more resources to veterans and helping active duty National Guard troops transition back into civilian life.
• Explained why he vetoed a  Voter ID bill. He said the language on absentee ballots was unclear and he didn’t want to take a chance that a citizen would have their vote voided.
• Defended the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax, calling it the “dumbest tax.” He said it penalized small and medium businesses which are the job creators for the state.
• Said the state needs to focus on student growth. Recent surveys show only 17 percent are ready for college and at community colleges, 60 percent of incoming students require remedial education. “I think that’s a travesty.”
• He is creating a Master Teacher category that will have good teachers teach other teachers and stay in the classroom.
• Is opposed to more casinos in the state. He said there is a small entertainment benefit, but the impacts on families are too high.
• Urged people to reject any ballot proposal as it is a weak way of amending the constitution.
• Supported pension reform for teachers to help alleviate a disaster for future generations.