Lawmakers React to the State of the State Address

Rank and file lawmakers in the Michigan House and Michigan Senate had varying reactions to the governor’s State of the State address.

State Senator John Proos, a southwest Michigan Republican, called the address historic because of how much time Governor Rick Snyder spent talking about the Flint water crisis.

Traditionally a governor will lead with accomplishments before diving in to what he wants to get done in the coming year.

Instead, Snyder lead with his shortcomings in handling the state’s reaction to high lead levels in Flint’s drinking water.

State Representative Sheldon Neeley, however, thought the governor didn’t take enough responsibility for the Flint water crisis.

Neeley, a Flint Democrat, says the governor failed to mention the emergency manager, appointed by Snyder, who authorized the switch to the more corrosive Flint River as the city’s water source.

Instead, Snyder made it appear as if the decision was made on the local level.

As a whole Republicans were far more complimentary of Snyder’s address than Democrats.