Helluva speech. Hit on some great populist themes: health care, education, higher wages, saving for retirement.
But she will get no help from Republicans to make Michigan a better place to live- that much was obvious. They sat on their hands for most of it, but, what else is new? When it comes to helping average citizens and the poor, that's the drill. Do nothing, and complain that nothing gets done.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Governor Jennifer Granholm promised to stay the course in her search for jobs and a better-trained work force tonight during her fourth annual State of the State address.
She also proposed several ideas she said would help Michigan workers, including access to a state-managed 401-k retirement savings plan for small business employees who otherwise wouldn't have one.
She also wants to offer health coverage for about 500-thousand low-income residents who now are uninsured, including the working poor.
She also called for raising the state minimum wage, rolling back insurance rates by 20 percent, increasing the Michigan Merit Award scholarship from 25-hundred dollars to four thousand dollars and requiring a more rigorous high school curriculum.
The speech prompted a new talking point from Dick. Someone get on that and verify the veracity.
Likely Republican candidate for Governor Dick DeVos is reacting to the Governor's speech. He acknowledged the Governor's ability to "sell" her ideas.
However, DeVos went on to say, "while speaking is important, it's really action that really counts. If ever there was a time for action in Michigan, that time is now. The simple fact is - Michigan is in a crisis right now. We are losing jobs at an alarming rate; in fact, we are losing one job every 10 minutes...."
Battle of the numbers. In the speech, Granholm claims-
Our efforts have created and retained 327,000 jobs that otherwise would have gone to some other state or more likely some other country.
And this-
There are 99,000 more people working right now than when I first took office.
I'm sure she can back those figures up. Can Dick back up his figures of a "job every ten minutes"? Will anyone ask him to?
There was a shot at businesses like Amway in the speech, businesses that have cut jobs here and invested in China. This part caught my attention.
We are blessed in Michigan with countless businesses who know what it means to be good corporate citizens. But we should not use your tax dollars to enrich the bad actors- the companies that incorporate in off-shore tax havens, violate US pension laws and international labor standards. We should ensure that your dollars go to creating jobs here in Michigan, not moving jobs overseas.
There were a few more references to China in the speech. I like to think they were directed in a subtle (and truthful) way at businessmen like Dick.
One of the items that really struck me was the call to repeal our ban on stem cell research. Our right wing legislature went dead silent on that, showing once again that they support the "culture of the blastocyst" over the people who are suffering now. This provision has cost us jobs, cost us scientists, cost the people who are afflicted with disease many years of pain and suffering. Of all the stupid reactionary shit that Republicans have foisted on the people, this is the most egregious in my eyes.
Talented researchers and businesses around the world are working right now on those cures...but we can't recruit them to Michigan to do their work because of the limits that Michigan law puts on them. When human lives are at stake, we should lead the nation in this work, not put obstacles in our own path.
There is a bill up now to remove the limits on research. I doubt it will get through. Our medical schools fall further behind. I'd love to see some figures on how it has affected the U of M.
Overall, it was a great speech, one that shows intelligence and vision. It's too bad our obstructionist legislature will fight her on every point and deny average citizens the benefits plans like these would bring. After all, they're not done with their "tax cuts" yet.