Engler to focus on education in address By Hanna LoPatin Daily Staff Reporter With the Michigan economy leaving nothing to worry about, in his 10th State of the State Address tonight Gov. John Engler will once again make education the focus of his speech. "Education will make up 50 percent" of the address, said Susan Shafer, Engler's deputy press secretary. The governor will "continue different types of education initiatives," she said. Last year, one of Engler's main education initiatives included placing the reins of public school education in the hands of the city mayors. Rep. John Hansen (D-Dexter) said while "the state has never been healthier economically, in education we've got a ways to go." Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) said in terms of education, the governor "should be seeking to further level the playing field." Brater said she feels reforms are needed to address other issues including the environment of the students. Problems like domestic abuse and hunger, Brater said, create "kids that aren't ready to learn." Economically, the state is in excellent shape, Shafer said, citing Michigan's record low unemployment numbers and the fact that Engler has cut taxes 26 times during his 10-year tenure. Hansen said he expects Engler to announce more tax cuts tonight. "There's a decent amount of revenue coming in," he said. "Tax-cuts are one thing you can do with a lot of money. You can also feed the hungry, find homes for the homeless." Brater said the whole nation has benefited from a good economy, "but there are some people that have been left behind." Although education will likely be the main focus of tonight's speech, higher education is not likely to be stressed, Hansen said, who serves on the House Education Committee. "We haven't had a higher education issue all year," he said. The affirmative action question that lingers in the air - especially at the University - is going to be answered by the courts, not the legislative or executive branches of government, Hansen said. Brater said Engler has ignored mental health issues the past year and during a press conference yesterday, Brater called for Engler to take action on the issue. Citing a recent report from the Michigan Department of Community Health, Brater said 34 percent of inmates from three state prisons suffer from mental illnesses. Engler closed 15 of the state's 21 mental institutions during his administration. "When you've turned your jails into mental hospitals, the state of the state isn't good," Brater said. Originally on page 1A in the 1-19-2000 issue of the Daily.