HOUGHTON -- Governor Snyder's visit to Houghton Tuesday focused on two critical issues:  the need for job creation and keeping recent graduates working in the state.

"We've had a shrinking pie in the state for far too long,” said Governor Snyder.  “We've been fighting over that pie, and the key is to grow the pie and create economic opportunity that we can all benefit from together."

Local business owners welcomed the governor at the Bluff's Senior Community Center.  He and state Representative Matt Huuki emphasized the need to reinvent Michigan, not simply fix its problems.

"I have no desire to say our goal is to be number 43, that doesn't cut it.  That's what ‘fix’ is all about.  We need to reinvent on how we operate," Snyder said.
    
"Without new business creation here in Michigan, we're going to continue down the road of economic decline, so we have to make new policy which then makes a friendlier business climate," added Rep. Matt Huuki.
    
Education funding also made the topic of discussion.
    
"Education is important, but for us to fund education, we need a good, strong private sector business climate here,” Huuki said.  “Obviously the revenue comes from these private businesses which then also pay for our public education system."

Governor Snyder also announced a potential plan that would allow the state to be proactive in rewarding success among teachers.

“One thing in my special education message, we talk about creating a master teaching category, a new classification where we could pay the best teachers even more money," he said.