Gov. Granholm Proposes Record 24 Expansions of Government and Four Limitations in 2008 State of the State Address

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
Contact: Michael D. LaFaive
Director of Fiscal Policy
989-631-0900

MIDLAND — Gov. Jennifer Granholm tonight surpassed the previous record for government expansions proposed in a State of the State address, according to the Mackinac Center’s annual tally of proposals by Michigan governors to expand or limit the scope of government.

"This year’s State of the State address was a series of contradictory signals," said Michael D. LaFaive, director of the Mackinac Center’s Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative. "The governor offered a litany of expensive proposals in the same speech in which she discussed our state’s economic distress. Michigan would probably benefit more if the proposals had been reversed, with 24 limitations and just four expansions."

The 2008 breakdown of Gov. Granholm’s proposals is posted on the Center’s Web site. Below is a set of historical averages covering the administrations of Govs. Milliken, Blanchard, Engler and Granholm.

Expansions and Limitations by Administration
since 1969

Gov. Milliken, 1969-1982		Avg.	High	Low
	Proposed expansions	5.6	12 (’71, 80)	0 (’74)
	Proposed limitations	2.9	8 (’73)	0 (’70, ’79, ’82)

Gov. Blanchard, 1983-1990		Avg.	High	Low
	Proposed expansions	8.6	19 (’89, '90)	1 (’85)
	Proposed limitations	2.1	7 (’84)	0 (’87, ’88)

Gov. Engler, 1991-2002		Avg.	High	Low
	Proposed expansions	8.4	18 (’00)	3 (’91)
	Proposed limitations	4.3	11 (’95)	1 (’02, ’97, ’03)

Gov. Granholm, 2003-2008		Avg.	High	Low
	Proposed expansions	17.6	24 (’08)	7 (’05)
	Proposed limitations	2.5	6 (’03)	0 (’05)

LaFaive has written his own version of the State of the State address, providing a frank assessment of Michigan’s economic ailments and offering policy prescriptions that can begin to restore the state’s fiscal health.