Western Michigan University Political Science Professor Peter Wielhouwer says compromise is the nature of politics. But he says Republicans who have made a commitment not to raise taxes are "in a box" on the issue of road funding.
State lawmakers and Governor Rick Snyder have started discussions about how to fund road repair after the overwhelming defeat of Proposal 1 on May 5th. Wilehouwer says Snyder will need Democratic votes if a tax increase is going to be approved. He says some Republicans are simply not going to vote for a tax increase.
Wielhouwer says Snyder has shown that he is not a strident conservative and thinks in pragmatic way about politics. But he says the governor still has to work with highly partisan legislature. Wielhouwer says Snyder can work with both parties in part because he can't run for another term as governor. But he says the term limits on the governor's office also limit his leverage in some ways.
Note: The interview with Peter Wielhouwer was recorded on Wednesday shortly before House Republicans rolled out their plan for funding road repair and maintenance.
