John Engler Quotes

Redistricting is one of the purest actions a legislative body can take.

Very few charter schools are being created in some of the best school districts in the state. If you're an educational innovator, that isn't where the greatest need is.

I'm very pleased with the job President Bush is doing and he's off to a terrific start.

I had made a decision early on that we were going to do the right things and that if they worked we were going to be very successful. And if for some reason they didn't, all the claims and the protestations and the excuses wouldn't make any difference.

I just have a position that any child that's in a failing school should be able to get out, or be in a position to have that school fixed.

Senator Allen has long been a leader on competitiveness issues in the Senate and as governor of Virginia. His announcement of the Competitiveness Caucus comes as great news to the nation's manufacturers. We support every item on this agenda and will work with Senator Allen and others to make it a reality. The time has come for Congress to recognize the vital role manufacturing plays in American life and do what it can to strengthen our ability to compete in the global marketplace.

As governor, I learned the importance of having an agenda.

The asbestos problem impacts everyone.

I think we've got outstanding teaching in Michigan classrooms.

I kept telling everyone I wasn't going to Washington to stay. I go to visit.

We didn't pass any constitutional amendments that affected the executive branch while I was governor.

The current Michigan Constitution was written in 1961 and 62.

Manufacturers employ more than 14 million Americans doing what Americans do best, making things, building things, transforming raw materials into finished products.

We have broken the cycle of dependency. People have found out they're better off working.

Nobody gets any guarantees.

Given the professionalism of Michigan teachers, I think they're not teaching because of the financial rewards.

As you look around the country there are still a significant number of states where their whole school debate is over school funding and we've been focused on the quality debate for most of the '90s.

I wish we could have acted quicker on Detroit or other failing schools.

Believe me, I'm not going to try to get into testing.

I have an old saying that the harder I work, the luckier I get.

I care about the children of Detroit.

You win by working hard, making tough decisions and building coalitions.

The Clean Michigan Initiative has been and continues to be a success.

All 50 states had the same national economy. And on virtually any measurement you wish to look at, Michigan has moved up and improved against the others.

I'm a compassionate conservative.

Despite these hurdles, manufacturers in the U.S. and their employees are doing remarkable work.

I've gone from being one of the youngest governors to now the longest consecutive serving governor in the country.

And there should not be a limit on the creation of new public schools. We ought to expand choices for parents.

While America's infrastructure needs are substantial, there is no reason to delay completion of the highway bill. Every day of delay means jobs lost, investment opportunities missed and growth sacrificed.

Ive been in the legislative branch and now the executive branch and in each case I felt it was important we use our constitutional responsibilities to the fullest.

Michigan is also the only industrial state that has a AAA credit rating.

Manufacturers account for nearly 60 percent of all industrial research and development.

The greatest luck that I've had has been the ability to find men and women who came into my administration who worked with me and brought extraordinary talents that we were able to take full advantage of.

I don't put labels on myself.

Sometimes it is better to begin the journey, to get under way, then it is to sit back and wait until such time that you're convinced that all conditions are perfect and that there'll be no surprises along the route.

I expect my next job to be outside government.

The parent knows instinctively that if they're working and setting an example for their child that means that child is more likely to be in school, more likely to stay out of trouble and more likely to complete their education.