Mixed reactions from lawmakers over Snyder's State of the State

LANSING (WJBK) - The primary reaction from other lawmakers is that Gov. Rick Snyder will likely leave the state in a better position than he inherited. 

More people live here and incomes are higher. Everyone FOX 2 spoke with said that for better or worse, his lasting legacy will always be tied to the Flint water crisis.

A majority of the State of the State consisted of a highlight reel of accomplishments, capped off with a few ideas for the continuing the growth in the state. For many it starts and ends with education. 

"The governor's legacy is going to be we went from the state with most outbound migration in a decade," said Arlan Meekhof, (R) Sen. Majority Leader. "And turned it around to a stable, growing state with people that want to come to Michigan." 

“The numbers don’t lie, we've got more people living here," said Rep. Laura Cox (R-Livonia). "We've got more people working, more people having their families here and it's all good news.”

“I’m excited that more people are here in Michigan, I also want to make sure they are going to stay, especially as a young person," said Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township). "I want to see all my friends stay. And the only way they will stay is if we have a plan to keep them here.”
 
"We need to make sure we push and compete with other states across this country," said Attorney General Bill Schuette. "Because other states in our country either have more jobs, more growth, they have lower taxes than we have."

"The governor's legacy will be slightly jaded," said Rep. Fred Durhal (D-Detroit). "I think he's done great things to help bring back the state of Michigan. But I think Flint is a big concern still, we didn't talk enough about Flint tonight.”
 
And while the governor did briefly say the water in Flint was dramatically better. He also talked about his desire to see a dramatic increase to per pupil funding. 

"People want to see an increase in per pupil funding for education," Cox said. "But the devil is in the details.”

"I am disappointed in the education talk because I feel like it’s been cut and we haven’t been restored from where it was cut from," Durhal said.
 
"Too little, too late," said Rep. Ian Conyers (D-Detroit). "On Thursday together with my colleagues in the state senate, the Dems, will be introducing a real investment in teachers, a real investment with students for the issues they have been facing for far too long."

"We can add a dollar to education and say it’s the highest it has ever been," said Rep. Donna Lasinski (D-Washtenaw County). "What we know is a study that came out last week that says we are underfunded by $2,000 per student. An additional $973 for our traditional public schools that provide transportation. That's the bar."