LANSING, Mich., Sept. 24, 2014 – During a radio interview this week, Lisa Brown – a Democratic legislator during former Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration and the current running mate for Mark Schauer's gubernatorial bid – was asked what she thought about the Granholm years, and her response shocked Michigan listeners. Brown said the “Granholm years weren't as bad as we think,” downplaying the Democrats’ Lost Decade.

“The recent comments from Mark Schauer's running mate, Lisa Brown, are astounding and offensive to anyone who was dragged through the Granholm-Schauer years, showing this ticket couldn't be more out of touch with the people of Michigan,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak. “Across the state, more than 300,000 hardworking Michiganders lost their jobs, unemployment rose to a record-high 14.2 percent, families were forced to move out of state to find work and the government shut down twice because Schauer and Granholm didn't know how to lead. It’s shameful that Mark Schauer's running mate would ever promote the Lost Decade; any gubernatorial ticket that believes those days ‘weren't as bad as we think’ is sure to undo our progress and repeat the same failures all over again.”

BACKGROUND

Brown’s response when asked if Schauer is worried about being tied to Granholm, and whether or not the Granholm years were as bad as we think:

“I think the Granholm years weren't as bad as we think. I think that they could have been better… I know I was disappointed with some things, I think we all were. But we’re talking about 2014, and we’re talking about what has happened to Michigan in the last three and a half years.” (Lisa Brown on Michael Patrick Shiels’ “Michigan’s Big Show,” 9/23/14)

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