Protestors Greet Governor as He Addresses Local GOP Dinner

4/19/13 - Governor Rick Snyder was the featured speaker at the Livingston County Republican Party?s Lincoln Day Dinner last night, but not everyone welcomed him with open arms. The event, held at Crystal Gardens in Genoa, is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the local GOP. Snyder spoke to the crowd of over 200 people about the changes made in the state since he took office, including the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax, passing balanced budgets, and increasing the rainy day fund from $2 million to half a billion dollars. While he was well-received by the audience, at least 60 protestors gathered in the rain outside the venue to denounce the actions and policies of Snyder and the GOP majority, including increased taxes on pensioners and homesteads as well as the passage of right-to-work legislation. They included Fowlerville Education Association President Mary Aldecoa and Howell High School teacher and Citizens Against Government Overreach President Doug Norton, who both said they opposed the increased taxation on the middle class and reduced spending on schools and other social programs. Snyder says the protestors were gone by the time he arrived. When asked how he would respond to the arguments of the protestors, Snyder said he believed he was doing what was right for citizens and businesses. He says his new budget will bring K-12 funding levels up to 11% above 2010 levels, and defended the passage of right-to-work legislation. He added that with an electorate of almost 10 million some people are bound to be unhappy with his changes. One GOP organizer says news that a protest would be taking place actually increased attendance for the fundraiser. (TD)

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