[1rudeboy]

I'm posting verifiable information from Michigan's own website responding to your opinion that "things were just as bad" with Engler in office. Please clarify what corresponds to your "no basis in reality" comment. You've been blathering about tax cuts vs. tax revenue all morning. I have provided information on Engler's tax cuts, and how the budget deficit he inherited swung to a surplus during this period. Pointing out that Michigan's budget has swung back into deficit is meaningless without context, or an explanation as to why you think it happened. Moreover, Michigan's 6% unemployment rate now is still better than the worst it was then, despite your best efforts to ignore the fact that during his stewardship, Michigan's unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in history. Just as bad my a**.

[eraser2005]

Michigan's unemployment rate was 6.2% when Engler left office. Look it up here:

BLS regional report, January 2003

The budget numbers are available on the Michigan Office of the Budget's website.

Michigan Office of the Budget

You're going to find your info is flat out wrong because you've decided that Engler left office 2 years before he actually did.

I think if you look carefully, the budget and unemployment situation in Michigan are VERY closely correlated to the fates of the Big 3 - which are determined by their mismanagement and the unions, not by the governor.