Dunigan For Senate Blog

 Roger Dunigan, 35^th District State Senate candidate, says Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s State of the State address misses the mark in several important ways.

“While I very much appreciate the Governor’s service to Michigan,” Dunigan said, “we can certainly do better than what she has suggested in her State of the State address.”

Dunigan was especially critical of the governor’s proposals regarding public education.

“What the Governor, and too many legislators, on both sides of the aisle proposed regarding teachers’s benefits and pensions will damage our public education system and deprive our children of the educational foundation they need and deserve.  Her proposal would encourage teachers with the most experience to flee the public education system and then attempt to balance the state budget on the backs of those left behind.  The losers will be our children and our future.”

Dunigan, an independent Democrat, says education is the cornerstone of future job growth. 

“We continue to lose both jobs and population as Michiganians leave to find better opportunities elsewhere,” Dunigan said.  “If we don’t support our public education system we will discourage new and innovative industries from starting here or coming here.  We must stregnthen public education, not weaken it.”

Dunigan said he was encouraged by Granholm’s continued support of the Pure Michigan program supporting tourism but was disappointed she had little to say about agriculture and human service programs.  “Four season tourism is part of the lifeblood of District 35,” Dunigan said, “and we need the boost Pure Michigan gives us.  But we also must support local agriculture and encourage buying locally.  Our local growers and farmers, many of whom have been the backbone of the local economy and stewards of the land for generations cannot be left out of our plans for the future.” 

Dunigan also said we must support local human services.  “I know these are incredibly challenging times and I certainly support reducing fraud, inefficiency and duplication of services.   We, however, must not abandon our most vulnerable citizens when they now need our help the most.