Bernero, Snyder Speak At Detroit Economic Club

Job creation and finance reform were hot topics Thursday as Michigan gubernatorial candidates Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero addressed a gathering of business leaders in Detroit.

Bernero, the Democratic mayor of Lansing, and his Republican opponent, Ann Arbor businessman Snyder, gave opening remarks before answering a series of questions sent in by the audience. Neither was on stage at the same time except when they shook hands at the event's conclusion.

For his part, Bernero directed part of his opening remarks to audience members from the banking industry, "To each of you I say this -- if you are willing to work in good faith to move this state forward. If you're willing to help families who have been hit hard in this worst economic meltdown in generations. If you're willing to help small businesses get back on their feet and start growing again, they you will have a full partner in the Bernero administration," Bernero said.

"If you are part of the Wall Street greed that runs over people in the pursuit of ever-greater profits and ever-bigger bonuses, then you and I are gonna have a problem," he said.

In talking about how he would reinvent Michigan, Snyder laid out a 10-point plan. Topping the list was a need for more and better jobs.

"Government's role is not to create jobs, but it's to create an environment where jobs can flourish. How do we make hat happen? Well, we have to get the 'Open for Business' sign out in our state, and that starts with tax reform," he said.

Snyder said, if elected, he would dump the Michigan Business Tax.

"I propose replacing it with a flat six-percent corporate income tax. Let's take a job-killer environment and let's start creating jobs. You take federal taxable income times six-percent, get a number, write a check -- go run your business. Simple, fair and efficient," Snyder said.

The sides have agreed to only one debate, on Sunday in Wixom. You'll hear it live on WWJ Newsradio 950.

They also spoke separately Sept. 17 to the West Michigan Policy Forum in Grand Rapids. On Oct. 22 they will be the keynote speakers at the American Arab Chamber of Commerce's 18th Annual Building Economic Bridges Banquet in Dearborn.
  
(Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)