Governor Rick Snyder and former Congressman Mark Schauer met in their only scheduled joint appearance of the campaign season last night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQcpZigEHfI
Governor Snyder is the Republican incumbent. Schauer is the Democratic challenger. The pair tangled on budgets, Detroit, and education spending. Schauer also reminded people the governor is, officially at least, defending the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
“His tough choices are tough on all the wrong people,” said Schauer. “They’re hurting people and hurting our families. I support marriage equality.”
Snyder says he has no choice but to defend the same-sex marriage ban approved a decade ago by Michigan voters. The governor says he will leave it up to Attorney General Bill Schuette to decide whether the state will appeal a decision from a federal appeals court. The ruling is expected any day now.
Schauer also took aim at the governor’s privatizing prison food services. The contract with Aramark has been plagued by troubles, including employees smuggling drugs and inappropriate sexual contact with inmates. Schauer said he “can’t understand why [Snyder] hasn’t terminated the contract.”
The governor says the problems were not confined to Aramark and are being fixed – and taxpayers will still save money.
“I try to work with people first before I throw somebody out,” said Snyder.
The Governor touted the work he has done with cities in financial crisis. He said those that were taken over by the state are better off today, and many are exiting emergency management.
“It’s working folks," Snyder said. “We’re getting these cities back on their feet that didn’t have an opportunity before – because we knew how big the messes were.
Schaeur says state cuts to local revenue sharing payments were a big factor in the fiscal troubles facing Detroit and other cities.
The election for governor is a little more than three weeks away.
