State of the State 2013: Gov. Rick Snyder proposes road funding, changes to voting, education

State of the State 2013: Gov. Rick Snyder proposes road funding, changes to voting, education | MLive.com
“The big deal is roads – road funding,” Snyder strategy director Bill Rustem told reporters prior to Snyder’s speech. “
Snyder wants it done early because he knows it is going to be a tough issue, Rustem said.

The road money plan could include raising vehicle registration fees.
It also would shift the tax system from the current 19-cent per gallon tax paid at the pump to a percentage of the wholesale cost of gasoline, which would rise with inflation and could bring in more money.
Snyder also would consider backing local options to raise more money at the county level, such as additional vehicle registration fees.
Both Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed Michigan needs more money for road repairs and transportation system improvements.

Other topics:
Elections and voting: Snyder is expected to back some form of online voter registration and no-reason absentee voting. It would require some steps aimed at security, such as entering Social Security numbers with registration and other features.
Jobs: Snyder is expected to push for ways to better help Michigan workers develop the skills needed for high-tech, health care and other high-demand job areas. It's not clear how much of that will come up in tonight's speech, however. One item that is expected to be mentioned is a special emphasis on military veterans for some types of jobs. Snyder also is expected to announce other steps, including accreditation of a veterans affairs agency, to help better deliver services to veterans.
Education: Great Start and other early childhood education programs could get more of an emphasis in the state budget, which will be proposed in early February. Snyder also is expected to renew his call to expand the state’s Education Achievement Authority. It now includes 15 schools in Detroit, but it could potentially expand to include many of the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools in the state. Proposals that could have put the EAA in state law and expanded that program fizzled in the state Legislature late last year, but likely will be resurrected.
Social services: Snyder is expected to address expanding a program that would put more Department of Human Services workers into elementary schools. The goal would be to help children and families get basic services, so educators can focus more on education. Much of the emphasis could be on Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Pontiac.