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Politics & Government

Poll: What Should Gov. Snyder's State of State Address Focus On?

Tonight's speech will give insight into the governor's plans and priorities for 2012.

Gov. Rick Snyder will give his second annual State of the State address at 7 tonight inside the state Capitol in Lansing.

The address will air on WTVS (Detroit Public TV) and WDET (101.9 FM). The governor has released few details about what he’ll say, but the following are some areas reported by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press as likely topics:

  • Crime: At an event Monday, Snyder said he will announce plans to boost fighting crime.
  • Education: He’ll talk about public schools and universities. Steve Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, said a $457 million surplus in the state budget should be used to restore cuts to K-12 education.
  • Public transportation: How to improve it in southeast Michigan.
  • Roads: How the state pays for roads.
  • Personal Property Tax: The PPT is a tax businesses pay on equipment, machinery and furnishings. It raises $1.2 billion annually that goes mostly to local communities and schools. Snyder has called for elimination of the PPT, and leaders of the Republican-controlled House and Senate have said it is a top priority for 2012.
  • Ethics: The need to strengthen laws on lobbying, campaign finance, ethics and transparency in government.
  • Employment: Better access to the Internet for job seekers transitioning from welfare to work.

What are your top priorities for 2012? What do you think the governor should focus on this year? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.

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