Contact: Sara Wurfel l Office: 517-335-6397 7 Email: wurfels@michigan.

gov w

FOR IMMEDIA R ATE RELE EASE Thursda June 30, 2011 ay,

Success of Snyde 182-da age S S ers ay enda driven by r d n relent tless p positiv act ve tion
LANSIN Mich. Relentless? You bet. Positive? Abso NG, R Y olutely. Actio Judge fo yourself. on? or h ov. ved n with mark relent tless True to his word, Go Rick Snyder has mov Michigan forward w his tradem positive action durin his first six months in office. The governor pledged to lay the a ng n e y groundw work for Mich higans econ nomic recove by drivin an ambiti ery ng ious agenda during the 182day perio from Jan. 1 to July 1. Snyder and his legislativ partners h od ve have enacted more quali d ity public-po olicy reforms in a shorte time frame than at any other period in recent m er e y d memory. Wh hile the quant is impressive, the go tity overnor emph hasized that quality is m importan and the most nt, reforms that were ena t acted are sub bstantive and well-thoug d ght. These are not the su uccesses of an individual Snyder sa They ar the accom a l, aid. re mplishments of an entire state that is determined to come bac stronger t ck than ever. Th magnitud of Michiga he de ans y gency. Thank to the ks fiscal crisis demands that we act thoughtfully but with a sense of urg ing ture and the participation of resident statewide, we have p n ts outstandi work of our Legislat implemen strategi reforms th will creat an environ nted ic hat te nment in wh working families an job hich g nd providers can thrive. Weve set th bar high and well ke reaching for the top. s he eep g rk eginning. We still have an aggressive schedule fo the rest of this year th e a e for f hat Our wor is only be includes essential edu ucation and local govern nment reform as well a approval f the propo ms, as for osed ernational Tr rade Crossin But we ca all take gr pride in knowing th were mo ng. an reat n hat oving New Inte forward together. Ou state soon will be a mo for the n t ur odel nation. Its a new day in Michigan a n and our futur is bright. re Snyder credited the leadership of Lt. Gov. Br Calley, House Spea f rian aker Jase Bol lger and Sen nate Majority Leader Ran Richardv ndy ville as a key reason that healthy pro y t ogress is bein made. ng ine ervants are working coop w peratively an tirelessly to get our st back on nd tate These fi public se track, Sn nyder said. Their dedic cation and vi ision has help to point Michigan in the right lped t n direction n. Highligh of the firs six months include: hts st s The timely co T ompletion of a balanced budget that eliminates th states $1 billion de f he 1.5 eficit an sets aside savings to help the stat meet its lo nd e h te ong-term obl ligations. Th budget wa he as

completed in advance of Snyders May 31 target date and is the earliest that the state budget had been wrapped up in 30 years. A major overhaul of the states tax structure, resulting in the elimination of the jobskilling Michigan Business Tax and leveling the playing field for all taxpayers. Updating Michigans Emergency Manager Law to help schools and communities stay fiscally solvent. Eliminating the outdated Item Pricing Law to help businesses grow while still protecting consumers. Devoting 53 percent of state resources in the budget to education. Laying out comprehensive agendas for education and local government reforms. Bringing greater efficiency and flexibility to the Michigan State Police through an innovative regional policing plan that enhances service to the public while reducing costs. Refocusing the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to provide greater assistance to Michigan businesses. Providing a stable funding source for the successful Pure Michigan tourism campaign. Strengthening the successful Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, which helps farmers remain economically viable and protects the environment. Preserving jobless benefits for 35,000 unemployed Michigan residents. Streamlining the parole board so the responsibility for parole decisions is taken out of the Governors Office and rightfully returned to the Michigan Department of Corrections. Issuing an Executive Order that creates separate departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, allowing them to better focus on their core missions. Adding rural development to the name and mission of the Department of Agriculture, which enhances coordination with the agriculture community to bring jobs to rural areas. Restructuring the former Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth into the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for improved coordination of programs across state government. Expanding the 21st Century Jobs Fund to assist the agriculture and technology sectors. Creating the Michigan Dashboard to help drive improvements in key areas and provide the state with a gauge to measure its success in meeting those goals.

A complete list of 182-day achievements is available online at www.michigan.gov/snyder. #####