Is there a Chief Executive in the House?
By Representative Dave Robertson
February 16, 2009
I was present in the chamber of the House of Representatives earlier this month for my ninth State of the State address and the seventh under Governor Granholm.
As she has demonstrated previously, she’s good at delivering a speech. But after seven speeches, I find myself wondering—is there an Executive in the House?
Governor Granholm began by acknowledging the horrible condition of our economy, and the necessity for bold action.
And what is her idea of bold action?
Appointing yet another commission to be led by Lt. Governor John Cherry to make recommendations on the consolidation of executive branch departments.
Now there’s a Profile in Courage moment for you.
This is yet another example of the Granholm administration’s paralysis by analysis.
Not too long ago, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop told the Wall Street Journal that Governor Granholm loved being Governor, but disliked governing. Never was a truer word spoken.
As Republicans, we can all agree with the need for fewer state departments. We have been advocating elimination of bureaucratic waste for more than six years.
In six years, it seems that she has had plenty of time and enough on-the-job training by now to make her own executive decisions.
Of course, Governor Granholm has a larger problem than her own executive cowardice. She simply has zero credibility on cost-cutting or government reform. During her six years in office, Michigan government has grown steadily.
As activists, we need to remember and help our fellow Michigan residents understand this simple truth. Granholm, as a liberal Democrat, believes in bigger government. She believes in dependency on government. The Democratic Party of today is a political party made up of special interest groups who draw their very livelihood from government. For this reason, as a practical political necessity Granholm and the Democrats can never and will never truly cut government spending.
The Governor will propose a budget in the coming weeks. This new Cherry Commission will simply rearrange a few deck chairs and go back to business as usual.
The only way to bring reform to Lansing is by making sure we have a new Executive at the next opportunity.
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