<< ``I think Michigan made a wise decision 150 years ago,'' said the
> state's Republican governor, John Engler. Michigan abolished the death
> penalty in 1846 and has resisted attempts to reinstate it. ``We're
> pretty proud of the fact that we don't have the death penalty,'' Engler
> said, adding that he is opposed to the death penalty on moral and
> pragmatic grounds.
>
> Engler said he is not swayed by polls that show 60 percent of Michigan
> residents favor the death penalty. He said 100 percent would like not to
> pay taxes. >>
I'll be damned (very likely in any event). Engler's pretty much a creep, but you can't tell about some Midwestern Republican govs. Ryan of Illinois is of course leading the wave on the death penalty. He is also pro-choice and antigun, unlike his losing Democratic opponent, who was pro-labor, but also prodeath, anti-choice, and pro-gun.
Engler also got rid of property tax financing of public schools.
--jks