JOHN ENGLER

I care about the children of Detroit.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I've 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.

The asbestos problem impacts everyone.

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

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

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.

I expect my next job to be outside government.

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.

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

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

I'm a compassionate conservative.

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

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

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

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.