The smartest thing we can do to create high-wage jobs and grow our economy is to keep our focus on education.

Every dollar governors are forced to cut out of our budgets is a dollar that's not going into the economy. . . . Every job that must be cut is another statistic in already escalating unemployment figures. . . . Every person who loses the support and services on which they rely for their livelihood and security leaves us poorer as a people and as a nation.

Our economy now is based on tourism and people who come here with other jobs because of the quality of life.

We must never forget that it is the private sector - not government - that is the engine of economic opportunity. Businesses, particularly small businesses, flourish and can provide good jobs when government acts as a productive partner.

What's great to me is that we're building jobs, and we're really building northern Michigan's brand. We're helping the economy here.

Small to midsize companies are the ones adding jobs to the economy. But you also have to look outside the Rochester region for business.