opinion

Snyder speaks, Tea Party responds

After a sitting governor delivers a State of the State address, it's customary for the opposing party leader to deliver a response. Last night, it was delivered by state Sen. David Knezek, a Democrat. But this year, newly elected state representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, self-identified tea party Republicans, posted their own take, headlined "The Liberty Response." Here are a few passages that leapt out at us:

■ "Where we can partner together with the Governor to protect our priceless gift of liberty, we are excited to do so. However, we were not elected to represent a government, or the Governor, but rather, we are compelled to first and foremost adhere to Biblical principles, the Constitution, our families, and the best interests of our districts, and the state."

■ "It is time to free the people from servitude to state government and we call all our citizens to pray for those in leadership asking that God would grant them wisdom, judgment, discernment, and the fortitude to do the right things, in the right moments, for the right reasons.

■ "We want to first thank God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation and His abounding and generous gifts, blessings and His grace, and mercy on our state and nation. It is important to acknowledge that it is only by His power and might that our state and nation remain. It is not the bills or the laws or the regulations that make our state and nation great, rather, it is recognizing who God is and submitting to His authority and dominion in our lives and as a state and nation; without this acknowledgment and also valuing God's gift of life, then all other steps to set our state on the right course will be amiss."

■ "The political establishment is perpetuating a never-ending need for cradle to grave government programs. This insatiable lust for public spending will be a suffocating boot on the neck of our future and our children's future."