Sometimes it is better to begin the journey, to get under way, then it is to sit back and wait until such time that you're convinced that all conditions are perfect and that there'll be no surprises along the route.
Redistricting is one of the purest actions a legislative body can take.
And there should not be a limit on the creation of new public schools. We ought to expand choices for parents.
I'm a compassionate conservative.
Believe me, I'm not going to try to get into testing.
We have broken the cycle of dependency. People have found out they're better off working.
I created no authority that wasn't already there under the constitution.
I wish we could have acted quicker on Detroit or other failing schools.
Ive been in the legislative branch and now the executive branch and in each case I felt it was important we use our constitutional responsibilities to the fullest.
The current Michigan Constitution was written in 1961 and 62.
As you look around the country there are still a significant number of states where their whole school debate is over school funding and we've been focused on the quality debate for most of the '90s.
Given the professionalism of Michigan teachers, I think they're not teaching because of the financial rewards.
I care about the children of Detroit.
Nobody gets any guarantees.
Manufacturers account for nearly 60 percent of all industrial research and development.
Manufacturers employ more than 14 million Americans doing what Americans do best, making things, building things, transforming raw materials into finished products.
The Clean Michigan Initiative has been and continues to be a success.
Senator Allen has long been a leader on competitiveness issues in the Senate and as governor of Virginia. His announcement of the Competitiveness Caucus comes as great news to the nation's manufacturers. We support every item on this agenda and will work with Senator Allen and others to make it a reality. The time has come for Congress to recognize the vital role manufacturing plays in American life and do what it can to strengthen our ability to compete in the global marketplace.
You win by working hard, making tough decisions and building coalitions.
All 50 states had the same national economy. And on virtually any measurement you wish to look at, Michigan has moved up and improved against the others.
The parent knows instinctively that if they're working and setting an example for their child that means that child is more likely to be in school, more likely to stay out of trouble and more likely to complete their education.
As governor, I learned the importance of having an agenda.
While America's infrastructure needs are substantial, there is no reason to delay completion of the highway bill. Every day of delay means jobs lost, investment opportunities missed and growth sacrificed.
Michigan is also the only industrial state that has a AAA credit rating.
I've gone from being one of the youngest governors to now the longest consecutive serving governor in the country.
