Traverse City Record-Eagle

Our Views

EDITORIAL

The issue: Snyder's State of the State address

Our view: A time to finish some big items

January 20, 2012

Gov. Snyder's new focus may resolve key issues

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For a businessman, Gov. Rick Snyder didn't offer many details about his agenda for the coming year during his State of the State address Wednesday.

It's not that many of his agenda items don't deserve attention. Most of them do. But for the most part, it appears that 2012 will be a do-over of 2011.

The new year "is about finishing that work -- the work left over from 2011," Snyder said.

That work will include putting an exchange in place so the uninsured can shop for health insurance -- an element of President Obama's health plan -- raising $1.4 billion a year more for road and bridge repairs, outlawing elder abuse and other lesser issues.

It's not that outlawing elder abuse (who knew it was legal?) isn't important. But after focusing on business in his first term, it's time to look out for the rest of us.

If Snyder can get three or four of his top agenda items out of the way, he will have a very, very good year.

Here are a few that should get priority:

• Infrastructure: Snyder said he wants the Legislature to modernize Michigan's transportation system and fill a $1.4 billion-a-year funding gap to repair roads and bridges. That must include reducing truck weights and setting aside enough each year to qualify for federal funds.

• A second Detroit River bridge: While Snyder pledged to make sure the New International Trade Crossing project between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, will be completed without any Michigan taxpayer dollars, the real promise must be that it will be built, even if he has to skirt the bought-and-sold Legislature to do it.

• Health: Snyder called for using federal funds to create a state health exchange where individuals and small businesses could shop for health insurance. States that don't set up their own exchanges risk having the federal government do it for them; don't wait.

• Accountability: Snyder said he wants to improve laws related to lobbying, campaign finance and ethics for state and local governments. Almost any improvement in Michigan laws mandating faster and more transparent campaign finance reporting would be a step forward. Voters have a right to know that information, and current state laws are abysmal.

• Education. The governor hinted that cuts to public school funding, which had reached the point of irresponsibility, may be finally over, a major return to reality.

If Snyder shows the same zeal for infrastructure, health and education issues that he did in 2011, his second year could be a memorable one for taxpayers.

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