Reaction to the state of the state address and the administration's tax and spend policy has been plentiful. Everyone and their mom has an opinion.  The Detroit News offered columnist blogs in addition to editorial comment and basic news coverage.  The Free Press chose instead of columnist blogs to sit-down with "average" folks to gauge their opinion.  GR Local WZZM 13 asked viewers to email their feedback.  Grand Rapids local WOOD TV 8 brought in ten west Michigan mayors to get their thoughts.

MRP and MDP were quick to post reaction on their websites.  

Never missing an opportunity to get a little free pub and insert themselves into a story, legislators from across the state have been issuing statements to the Lansing press corp and to their home-town rags and broadcast outlets.  

While some begged for a column of ink, some couldn't get away if they tried and were more than happy to talk.  Take the new Senate Majority Leader, Mike Bishop (R).  Asked for his reaction he didn't mince words.  

"It was disturbing to sit through a speech that, while clearly inspired on her side, does not mesh with reality,"

But in the hours after their leader shouted "just tax more," House Speaker Andy Dillon and Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, two Democrat leaders and front runners for the 2010 Democrat nod to succeed the governor, were conspicuous by their absence.

Dillon couldn't get off the House floor without issuing a statement, and with his back against the wall offered this penetrating analysis:

"We've got to lower health care costs. We've got to diversify the economy. And I think she's right, we've either got to go forward or we're going to continue to go backward."

Really?  Health care costs too much?  Well, yeah, I think we all probably agree with you there.  But you know what, I still wasn't sold on the speech until you reminded me that we've either got to go forward or we're going to continue to go backward.  Geez Louise.  That's profound!  

Whitmer had even less to say:

"......"

Oh.  Well, I guess she got the heck out of dodge because nobody's nailed her down on a statement just yet.  

Dillon and Whitmer face an interesting challenge.  Dillon is being asked to carry the governor's water in the House and Whitmer's supposed to be one of her staunchest allies in the Senate Dem Minority.  That's fine if the governor's offering a chicken in every pot (complete with broth and trimmings) and there's money in the coffers to pay for it.  Sadly, under this administration, that money just isn't there.  To the contrary, tomorrow's budget could call for as much as $3 billion in new taxes to erase Granholm's $4+ billion deficit!

Dillon and Whitmer don't have a problem with the policy.  They don't have a problem with raising our taxes.  They'll be there when the votes are due, and who knows, maybe they'll find their voice on the issue yet.  But when you're sending signals that you're interested in becoming the next CEO, having your name intimately linked to the largest tax hike in state history can't do you much good.

As the governor spoke you could almost see the Speaker's mind racing... Blanchard pushed through a tax hike and they kicked two democrats out of office!  Don't worry, Andy.  Those were state Senators.  That's Gretchen's problem today.

But every sentence you say and every acquiescing vote you casts makes it more and more certain you'll both have to deal with it tomorrow.