Rick Snyder in 2014 Michigan Governor's race

On Immigration: 50,000 skilled worker visas to repopulate Detroit

The EB-2 visas would be aimed at individuals with advanced degrees and exceptional skills in fields like the auto industry and life sciences, Snyder said. EB-2 visas allow individuals with special talents to enter the country without a job offer. There is no precedent for special visas to be issued for a specific geographic area, Snyder said. But he compared the program to a current one that grants visas to physicians who agree to work in under-served areas.

"Where else could you find a house for the prices you're going to find here? It's a good deal," Snyder said.

On Abortion: Vetoed total abortion ban; signed abortion restrictions

The governor did sign highly controversial legislation to restrict abortion that's likely to shut down providers. But that wasn't good enough for RTL. They saw an opportunity with GOP majorities in the House and Senate. So they launched a petition drive for the abortion insurance ban, which, it should be noted, is an interesting interpretation of free market principles. After collecting more than 300,000 signatures, the measure went before the Legislature and passed this month. It cuts the governor completely out of the process--his signature isn't required; this is now the law of the land.

On Jobs: Quietly signed law making Michigan a right-to-work state

When Snyder backed the law making workplace union membership optional after long saying the contentious issue was not on his agenda, it reshaped his persona as an apolitical chief executive focused on fixing the state's problems. But the Republican governor's supporters say the fervor of right-to-work was overblown by Democrats and their union allies who stand to lose the most from a prohibition of compulsory union dues.

The law went into effect on March 28, so it is too early to calculate its effect on statistics for union membership statewide and dues collections by Michigan unions. But it has reinvigorated labor and Democratic opposition to Snyder. The Snyder administration has argued the governor is staying focused on creating an environment for more and better jobs.

On Government Reform: Vetoed voter identification bill

Snyder, finishing the third year of his first four-year term in the only political office he's ever held, says he's neither RINO nor radical, but a governor who's doing what he can to turn the state's economy fully to the positive. "I'm a person that doesn't get overly focused on politics," Snyder said. "I don't spend time worrying about what the far right or the far left thinks. It's really a case of, 'Here's a problem, here's common sense, here's a solution.'"

On Local Issues: Detroit bankruptcy is an opportunity to stabilize Detroit

SNYDER: This was a very difficult situation, but it's the right one. we looked through every other viable option. We worked in good faith towards many other courses of action. And this has been 60 years in the making. Ultimately, this is an opportunity to stabilize Detroit and grow Detroit, because you have to get back to the fundamentals--not just the debt question. But even more important than the $18 billion in debt is the accountability to the citizens of Detroit. They're not getting the services they deserve. Enough is enough and now is the time to turn it around.