It's just going to take some time, and the will to fight through the tough times to come in '09. You ready? It's going to get pretty bad. With the auto restructuring, we are looking to lose anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 jobs next year. The dominoes have already been set in motion. Tax revenues are down, cuts will have to be made, the right is gearing up to blame this all on the Democrats, and we are going to need all hands on deck to maintain the quality of life and the plans already in place that will position us for job growth in the future.
I knew it would be tough. And it was. The toughest year yet. It was historical. I don't think any of us have quite wrapped our minds around what has happened here in this past year - really this past decade, when you think about it. The major driver of this state's economy, manufacturing, and particularly auto manufacturing, was brought to its knees. 100 years to build, 10 years to nearly destroy. And it culminated with national economic conditions that haven't been seen since the Great Depression.
Imagine you are this woman. Tax revenues are plummeting. Unemployment is soaring. Two of the Big Three file for bankruptcy and teeter on the edge of extinction. Your state budget is $3 billion in the hole. The press is attacking, the citizens are hurting, the legislature is paralyzed... oh, and by the way, you're being vetted for the Supreme Court. Man. Through it all, you keep fighting for the priorities that you know are right, that you know will get us to where we want to go. So, not only are you trying to hang on to what you have, you are working to diversify the economy, build towards a better future, and most of all, stay positive in the face of such adversity. She isn't the cheerleader that she used to be - but she held her own through the toughest of times.
For the list of all the good things that have happened this year - and there were plenty when you look at it - check the state release here.
On a personal note, people can (and do!) call me all the names they want, send me hate mail, speculate on my motives (and it was never about a Lansing career, unless Al Goldis wants to give me his job) - I still am veryproud to support this governor. I believe that we are on the right track, and the seeds that are being planted now in renewable energy, the film industry, health care, advanced manufacturing - all of that, combined with a revived and competitive domestic auto industry, will bring this state back again. You can see it coming.
But first, we have to get through one. more. brutal. budget - and this time, we get to do it in an election year. Oh my.
Granholm said she's ready and willing to enter into a "grand bargain" to restructure the state's outdated tax scheme. She said she's willing to talk about a tax revamping that brings in the same amount of money as two years ago, but a revenue neutral plan that maintains tax collections at 2010 levels would not be acceptable.
Asked what is meant by a grand bargain, she replied: "Everybody gives something, everybody gets something ... there's pain all around."
Such a deal might include lowering the sales tax and extending it to services, Granholm said. She added she's working with the business community, House Speaker Andy Dillon and "hopefully the Senate Majority Leader" Mike Bishop on such a tax plan.
The Governor said she's not going to throw some plan out there just to have them say "no" - this is going to take cooperation from everyone, and as we have seen so frequently over the past couple of years, that might be impossible, especially with the "Party of No" gearing up to use both the cuts and the economy against all Democrats in the elections. Next year will not be about Jennifer Granholm, and she knows it. When it comes to the budget battle, it's about the Mike and Andy Show, and what they have in mind for their future plans, God help us. We'll see the revenue numbers in January, and go from there.
2010 could be very interesting indeed. Fasten your seatbelts and grab some popcorn, and get ready to watch the show. There are teabagger Republicans that need a whoopin', and I hope you all will be around to help.
Well well. I've just recently started to hang out over in the land of orange, and none too soon, I tell you. For right now, as I type, our own Governor Granholm is on the front page over there, expressing her exasperation with these GOP Governors who are carving political opportunity out of the misfortunes of their fellow Americans.
Kos TV. I didn't know there was a Kos TV. Kos has everything. Just like Barbie. But back to the point.
Bobby Jindal is one of those nutbags who started running for President when he was a fetus. I first became aware of him in January of 2005, when he told the US House of Representatives that his immigrant father would be ashamed of America because the House was deliberating Stephanie Tubbs-Jones' motion regarding the election fraud in Ohio. (Don't bother denying it, I have the dvd, $39.99, CSPAN)
Bobby is one of those mean-spirited, bat-poo crazy wingnuts, who thinks that taxes are the root of all evil. Bobby is planning to reject unemployment compensation for his citizens now because it might lead to higher taxes later.
Yes you read that right. He wants the people of Louisiana to go hungry now, because otherwise the businesses of Louisiana might pay higher taxes later. That is some serious GOP brand loyalty on the part of Jindal. I don't mind seeing Jindal go down with his party, but does he have to fail while being responsible for the lives of millions? Haven't the people of Louisiana suffered enough? With the hot weather and the voodoo and the hurricanes that wash their cities away? Eek.
Anyway, back to our Gov. I like it that our Governor has the good sense to put people first, but I'm not in love with the idea of having her in a youtube somewhere, saying "As Governor of Michigan, I'm going to take every single dollar ..."
Yep, that one's going to get edited, taken out of context, and lied about in the right wing blogs.
There are none so blind as those who will not see, and there are none so dangerous as those who insist on clinging to their failed partisan ideology in the face of the need for real, comprehensive reform in state policy. And just like the budget battle of 2007, Mike Bishop is setting the Republican Senate up to dig in their heels and ignore reality, common wisdom, and expert reports on reducing Michigan's prison costs, and instead is focusing on the Richard Shelby solution to all of life's problems; busting union contracts and cutting worker pay.
First we have to highlight this laughable and disingenuous statement. If Bishop doesn't really like "cuts", then why has it been his answer to every single problem that we face?
"I don't like to say we've got to cut, cut, cut. I never thought I'd be in government to say that. But it is the reality of our times. This is the discussion we have to have."
And why does Bishop think that the Senate should be in control of that discussion? Voters made their wishes clear this past November on which party they would like to see take the lead on policy, would have cleaned out the Senate if they could have, but Mike, in all his arrogance, dismisses the House as "rookies" who need his guidance.
Speaker Dillon, care to respond to this one while it is fresh in everyone's mind?
In 2009, he said, the budget will be the dominant topic of discussion. The Senate will have to take the lead, Bishop said, since one-third of House members will be new to the job due to term limits.
Bottom line is: If we want to see real government reform, the last person we should turn to for leadership is Mike Bishop, and his statements on the issue of cutting prison costs is just one example of why. He has a one-track mind, and that track is simply "cut".
Every single study so far has indicated that Michigan's problem is mainly our high rate of incarceration as compared to other states. From prison policy experts, to state budget analysis, the number of people we lock up and the length of time we lock them up for are seen to be the culprit for escalating costs. In the interest of brevity, let's look at the report on state budget priorities from Public Sector Consultants for the Detroit Renaissance group. Big names like Sikkema, Lannoye and Rustem wrote this up, so you can't really claim a liberal or union bias.
Changes to criminal statutes and sentencing guidelines are difficult political pills to swallow. Legislators tend to be wary of proposals that would reduce sentences and make them look "soft on crime"-a stance that is typically reinforced by the law enforcement community and victim's rights groups. However, Michigan's prison incarceration rate is 45 percent higher than the average of the Great Lakes states. In order to reduce spending now, as well as for the long term, changes must be made to the state's approach to dealing with criminal behavior. By resolving to reduce the prison population to meet the Great Lakes average, Michigan's legislators will demonstrate their commitment to appropriate fiscal practices and recognize cost avoidance annually, up to roughly $400 million per year.
An important consideration when cost savings are achieved by lowering the prison population or reducing the time that a prisoner stays in prison is the reinvestment cost of releasing prisoners back into society. Initiatives to reduce the prison population and control spending must be balanced with reinvestment dollars (such as the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative), which will improve the likelihood that prisoners who are released are not returned to the custody of the state system.
Basically, get them out, and have a support system in place so they stay out. That is where your biggest cost savings can be found - significant reform in the way we handle prisoners, both in sentencing, and reintegration with society. That is what the pros tell us to do. This report, and others like it, does take a look at state employee benefits as far as health care and pension concerns go, but you are hard-pressed to find examples where employee pay (except for overtime costs) are a major factor in reducing overall prison costs.
So, in the face of this evidence, why is Bishop insisting that employee pay is the problem?
Departments may have to close or merge and some of the state's 50,000 employees may have to take pay cuts, Bishop said. As an example, he points to the state's corrections budget, which amounts to more than is spent on education. Indiana, he said, pays its corrections workers half as much as Michigan.
"The solution is not just to close prisons and release prisoners. ... The solution is how we can afford our corrections employees," he said. "This isn't about hard-working people. This is about a system ... that isn't working."
And who does Bishop sound like when he lasers in on union employees, while conveniently ignoring the rest of "the system"?
It's the same message auto workers are hearing from Congress and many others in the private sector are facing.
And somewhere out there, with the dog-whistle that only the extremists on the right can hear, Betsy DeVos still whispers in the night, "Michigan workers make too much money".
We have a report coming by the end of the month from the Justice Center at the Council of State Governments that will show us the "series of steps to create a more effective and affordable crime fighting strategy for Michigan". Sensible reductions, such as overtime pay and restructuring of benefits will probably be included, and unions will probably be willing to take a look at any reasonable proposal put forth. After all, auto workers and other union members across the country have made concessions and demonstrated that they can be flexible given the current state of the national economy.
Question now is: Will Senate Republicans also demonstrate the willingness to compromise and apply some common sense when it comes to prison reform? Given Bishop's statements so far on the issue, it's not looking good for those who yearn for true leadership from the Senate. Bishop indicates that he thinks that the governor is looking to pass the solutions on to the next adminstation; it's too bad for us that his obstructionist and partisan behavior might be the reason why we end up having to do just that.
Wednesday began early for our team with a 7 a.m. flight to Amman, Jordan for the last leg of our 2008 Middle East jobs and investment mission. As we flew into Queen Alia Airport, the dramatic change in terrain became clear. Where Israel is lush and green sitting right on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is desert. Amman, the ancient capital of the Hashemite Kingdom, has sandstone architecture, olive and banana trees, but none of the trees and greenery that Americans are used to. It is a truly beautiful and historic place.
After a briefing at the U.S. Embassy on Jordan and U.S. relations, we were off for meetings with Catalyst Private Equity, a venture capital firm, and Millenium Energy Industries, an alternative energy company that is doing cutting edge work with solar energy. The projects they have underway include a local chocolate factory that is powered by solar energy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a Jordache Jeans factory -- the Millenium executives even had some delicious "solar chocolates" for us to taste from the factory.
Millenium Energy is looking to approach the U.S. market by putting some pilot projects in the states and also possibly expanding with a manufacturing site back home too - we made the case for why Michigan is the perfect gateway to North America. We made sure they knew about our great workforce, our world-class universities and our new energy package which makes it easier for alternative energy companies to anchor and create jobs in our state. The meeting was very promising and I look forward to a future partnership with the company.
I was also honored to be welcomed by His Majesty King Abdullah II. The gracious Jordanian King invited us to the palace where we had the chance to discuss future partnerships between Michigan and Jordan in the areas of alternative energy and water-reuse technology. His Majesty is truly committed to education, focused on a well-educated work force and a knowledge-based economy - like we are in Michigan and we talked of a possible university collaboration.
This afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful traditional meal with Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, President and CEO of the Arab American and Chaldean Council, with her family. The courses never stopped coming -- from the wonderful hummus, to falafel, lamb and fish, Spicy Red pepper dip and Garlic dip -- it was an unforgettable meal.
This has been a wonderful, encouraging week. We have been welcomed by leaders and dignitaries, business leaders and entrepreneurs. And we have seen the tremendous potential for partnerships and investment that will bring jobs to Michigan. By the end of this week our team will have been in 3 countries, holding 48 meetings, talking with well over 130 companies.
While our team is continuing with their work here, I am ending my trip sooner than planned. I am leaving Jordan tonight to be in Washington, D.C. tomorrow as Congress continues its discussions about critical help for our automakers. The decisions they make will impact jobs and our economy, as well as our nation's ability to achieve energy independence and to ensure our national security. I'm proud to be part of a great team, including Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and Congressmen John Dingell and Sandy Levin, to fight for Michigan's families, Michigan's economy and Michigan's future.
Governor Granholm joined seven other governors in sending a letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of aid to the auto industry - read the text here.
Tuesday brought more beautiful weather and a full schedule of company meetings in Israel.
We were up early and at it again pitching Michigan during a breakfast meeting in Jerusalem with technology company Powermat. Imagine being able to lay your cell phone on your desk or put your Ipod on the counter at home to charge them. This cutting-edge company has created an electric mat that will do just that - on your desk, nightstand, conference room table, or even your wall. The company's goal is to manage energy and eliminate waste, which matches Michigan's energy goals perfectly. Powermat is collaborating with a hi-tech Michigan-based company and is scheduled for a January announcement in Michigan with the potential to create several hundred new jobs.
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From there, we left Jerusalem for an afternoon of meetings in Haifa -- a city north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean. On our journey, we passed through the Carmel Mountains -- a wine-growing region also known for its many artist colonies. Haifa was breathtaking -- situated high above the sea. Anyone who loves wine country in California would feel right at home here.
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Our meetings in Haifa were with companies in our targeted sectors to diversify our economy. They included Senso Optics, a homeland security and defense company that creates technology like lenses used for airport security, border control, and sensors for day and night vision. And Multi Gene Vascular Systems -- a life sciences company that is doing work with gene therapy to remove blockage and open up arteries in the legs and heart. They are looking at having a presence in Michigan in the next 6-12 months. And we met with HBR Labs, a web-based software company that has committed to opening their Michigan operation by the end of this year. These companies and their interest in investment in Michigan means jobs and growth at home.Â
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Our last meeting of the day was with the #1 homeland security and defense company in Israel, Elbit Israel. It's a $2.4 billion dollar company that makes up 40 percent of all the homeland security and defense-based sales in the country. The company already has a U.S. presence - Elbit North America - and their chairman, Joe Parini who is from Grand Rapids, helped to coordinat this meeting for us. It was a productive meeting, and we had the chance to talk about all of Michigan's advantages, including TACOM and our auto industry. As Elbit North America considers its next expansion, we'll continue to make the case for why Michigan is the perfect place for it to be.
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Now, it's off to our final business event in Israel at the home of U.S. Ambassador to Israel James Cunningham. Ambassador Cunningham has graciously offered to host a reception for business and industry leaders as well as a number of Michiganians who are in the country.
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Tomorrow, we head to Jordan where we'll continue to talk about all that Michigan has to offer companies looking to invest and grow internationally.
It was another full day of meetings on my second day in Israel! This morning we made the 70 kilometer trek from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. There were many morning commuters on the road as we made our way through the rolling Judeau hills. As a person of faith, arriving in Jerusalem is a truly incredible experience. The history, beautiful architecture and the olive trees reminds you of the unique history of this place.
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Our first meeting was with the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert. He was very interested in our economic plan and what the future holds for Michigan in the 21st century. He was so pleased to hear that we would be signing a joint declaration of strategic cooperation on water technologies, with Israel later in the morning. Like me, the Prime Minister believes that Michigan has the resources and Israel has the technology to create great synergy on this important issue. The Prime Minister is no stranger to Michigan, having visited friends in the Detroit area many times. He's even had the chance to take in a Pistons game!
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Later in the morning, we joined with Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor to sign a Joint Declaration of Strategic Cooperation, a partnership between Israel and Michigan. This new partnership will include a working group that will focus on innovative technology to increase energy efficiency, improve water quality, and increase water reuse. Like the joint agreement we signed with Sweden to work on biofuels, this holds great potential for new jobs in Michigan.Â
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This afternoon we stopped in for a visit at the Frankel School in Jerusalem.  Michigan native, Stanley Frankel operates the school. We were greeted warmly by the children who were waving Israel flags and American flags while singing traditional Jewish music. And I was honored to have a chance to tour Old Jerusalem and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, the Jewish communities memorial to those victimized by the Holocaust. The ceremony touched us all and reminded us that we must never forget the horrifying experience of the Holocaust, lest it be repeated.
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With all that is happening in the economy and as the debate over the future of the auto industry continues in Congress, our time in Israel has been a renewal of hope.  Not that long ago, this country faced similar economic challenges to what Michigan is experiencing now. They were reliant on agriculture and needed to diversify their economy. In the last decade, they have honed in on homeland security and defense and water technologies and have strengthened their economy, created thousands of new jobs and lowering their unemployment rate.  A reminder that we are on the right path in Michigan. We must continue to work our plan, fight for the future of our auto industry and manufacturing sector and create jobs in places where Michigan has a natural advantage like alternative energy and homeland security. And that's exactly what we're going to do ...
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Stay tuned for more from the Middle East tomorrow...
ABOVE: Shai Agassi showing me the battery in the Better Place vehicle
Shalom from Israel! I write to you from the Middle East where I am on my seventh overseas jobs and investment mission - part of my strategy to go anywhere, do anything to diversify our economy and bring jobs home to Michigan.
After just barely catching our plane, we embarked on a 10-hour flight to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. We were greeted in Tel Aviv by many friendly faces and lots of sunshine! (Sorry for those of you who may be seeing the first snow of the season.) Once we settled into our hotel, I worked off my jet lag with a jog along the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea - a beautiful day for a run. Saturdays are reserved for the Sabbath, which is the weekly day of rest and worship in the Jewish community, so many businesses were closed. There were families enjoying time together on the beach - children flying brightly colored kites, men playing paddleball in the sand, and boardwalk cafes filled with patrons taking in the sunny November afternoon. At the end of my jog, I stuck my feet in the water and really took it all in - the sights, the people, the skyline, and the sea. Last night, our team enjoyed a welcome dinner at Deca, a restaurant in Tel Aviv. The food was delicious: fish falafel, cucumber salad with yogurt dressing, grilled salmon; and the sweet melon crepes for dessert really hit the spot! With a long, tiring journey behind us, we were refreshed and ready to pitch our Michigan story.
ABOVE: Talking with Perrigo Executive VP and President of Perrigo Israel Rafi Lebel
This morning, we were up early for a business breakfast with the Deloitte partners of Israel. They provided a briefing on the possibilities of Israeli alternative energy and homeland security opportunities that Michigan may be able to hone in on. Then we were off to the headquarters of Perrigo Israel for a meeting with Rafi Lebel, Perrigo's executive vice-president who is also president of Perrigo Israel, and his team. Perrigo is a health sciences company that already has a strong presence in West Michigan. They announced a $25 million expansion last summer that was supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Rafi said they are at capacity in West Michigan and are looking to possibly expand again. We thanked the company for their continued commitment to Michigan and also encouraged their future growth in the Great Lakes State. We have the infrastructure and beautiful lab space already in place, and I let Rafi know that we are ready to help them grow their business and grow new jobs right now. Michigan and Perrigo already have a great working relationship, but this trip is all about continuing to build on our link with business in Israel and attracting new jobs and growth in the future.
ABOVE: Test driving the battery-electric Better Place vehicle
Our next meeting was with Shai Agassi, a brilliant entrepreneur and CEO of Better Place, a company that is working fervently to electrify the car. In January 2008, the Israeli government announced its support for a broad effort to promote the use of electric cars, embracing a joint venture with Better Place. Shai is also building the stations in Israel where batteries for cars can be recharged and is expanding this effort in countries around the world. We want to reduce our state's and our nation's dependence on foreign oil, and the advanced battery has the potential to do just that. We talked about future partnerships that might be viable for Michigan, and in Michigan, we know that new energy means new jobs. Later in the afternoon, we met with Inspire Invest, a venture capital firm in Tel Aviv, and this evening, I spoke at an automotive seminar and reception hosted by the Michigan Israel Business Bridge and the Israel Export Institute where I discussed business and research opportunities with CEOs of companies and suppliers that are looking to grow and expand.
Overall, it was a busy day full of promise and prospective jobs for Michigan. Stay tuned for more news on our meetings and travels tomorrow as we head to Jerusalem to continue telling Michigan's story.
Governor Granholm appeared this morning on Face the Nation with Congressman Roy Blunt(R), Congresswoman Heather Wilson(RR and Diane Feinstein(D) to discuss Presidential politics.
ABOVE: Visiting a hospital near Nagoya to see an artificial heart and lung machine produced by Terumo Corporation in Ann Arbor in action. Terumo recently announced it would move operations from Tustin, CA to the plant in Ann Arbor.
On the final day of this jobs and investment mission, we covered more ground in Nagoya and Osaka.
We started bright and early with a breakfast meeting with Toyota Tsusho, co-owner of Eurus Wind Energy. Well established in the automotive industry, Toyota Tsusho is looking to move into the renewable energy business with Eurus Energy and we talked about the possibilities for making that happen in Michigan.
Then it was off to Toyota Motor Company to meet with President Watanabe. He was gracious enough to spend time discussing his company's plan to develop battery technology, the success and expansion of the Toyota Technical Center and more.
ABOVE: Discussing the future of hybrid and electric vehicles with Toyota Motors President Katsuaki Watanabe.
I also met with company executives from Toyota Boshoku, including Dr. Toyoda. Toyota Boshoku is another great company in the Toyota family.
ABOVE: Pitching Michigan to executives from Mitsubishi Heavy Industry. The company, which has long had a relationship with Michigan, is diversifying into wind turbine manufacturing and will soon decide where to locate their first American manufacturing facility. MEDC officials met with the company in California prior to today's meeting to encourage consideration of Michigan and I made the case for why Michigan was the best place in the country for wind manufacturing.
I'm back on Day 2, writing from my hotel room in Nagoya after another full day of meetings, events and travel.
Last night we were invited to dine with executives from Hino Motors at Chinzan-so, Tokyo's Japanese Garden Restaurant which is located in a particularly scenic part of the city. After a hectic day, we had the chance to stroll through their beautiful gardens before heading into dinner. Dinner included eel, barracuda, fish dumplings, sake-boiled scallops, dragon fruit (really big and hot pink on the outside) - I was a little leery of the fare at first, but it was surprisingly tasty!
It was an early morning today, with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call and another breakfast briefing with the team. We were on the bullet train by 8:00 a.m. to travel on to a meeting with Mitsubishi Heavy Industry. MHI is a great example of how the world is changing. MHI has manufactured heavy equipment for generations, but is now branching out into wind turbines and we want their first American manufacturing facility to be in Michigan.
As we traveled through the city, I was reflecting on the mix of old and new in Tokyo. There is the serene old Imperial Palace and then the bright lights and glitz of the Ginza. The Ginza is the district's center - one square meter in this area is worth more than ten million yen (which is equal to more than $100,000 U.S. dollars), making it one of the most expensive places for real estate in Japan. It is also where you can find the infamous cups of $10 coffee! While in the Ginza district, it is apparent that the Japanese always have the latest toys, clothes, and music on hand.
(more about the day and another photo below the fold)
Why won’t he just give in? Governor Jennifer Granholm just started the hearing to remove Kwame Kilpatrick from the mayor’s office today. It is unbelievable that he still has not resigned despite all the pain and embarrassment he has put Detroit and the rest of Michigan through, not to mention the stagnation he has brought to the city’s and region’s growth and development ever since the whole scandal erupted.
In case you missed this last night, here's the video of Governor Granholm moderating a town hall discussion on clean, green energy at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Every single time Dick DeVos opens his mouth he gives us more proof of why the man should never hold elected office. As much as we all want to see Kwame Kilpatrick out of the big chair in Detroit - to arbitrarily yank him out without a hearing would not only be illegal by Michigan's constitution, it would set a dangerous precedent that could be used by other governors in the future to remove elected officials that they deem "unable to serve", for whatever reasons they choose - perhaps even political.
Stop and think about that. You don't want a governor that would overturn the will of the people on their judgment alone - you want a procedure in place so governors can't abuse their power.
Watch Dick put the "dick" back in dictatorship as he jumps on the Remove Kwame bandwagon. Mr. Monday Morning Quarterback tells MIRS...
Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVOS told MIRS today that if he'd been Governor, he would have already removed Detroit Mayor Kwame KILPATRICK from office.
"That would be yesterday's news," DeVos said. "The issue isn't whether he's innocent or guilty, it's whether he can effectively serve."
So, is Dick admitting that he would be the final judge and jury on who can "effectively serve"? That he would break Michigan's constitutional law whenever he sees fit? If true, it's a damn good thing he isn't governor. Granholm is going by the book here - and that book says that an elected official is due a hearing before they are removed from office. The governor's lawyer Kelly Keenan spelled it out for the Freep-
Michigan Election Law (1954 PA 116, MCL 168.327) authorizes the governor to remove a city officer for specified reasons but states, among other things, that "[t]he governor shall not take action upon any charges made to the governor against a city officer until the charges have been exhibited to the governor in writing, verified by the affidavit of the party making them, that he or she believes the charges to be true...and an opportunity given the officer of being heard in his or her defense."
Not only must the governor strictly follow the statute, failure to do so could lead a reviewing court to overturn the governor's action.
Seeing as how Kwame appears determined to fight this every step of the way - you can be sure that if DeVos were governor, his brash action would open a whole new legal can of worms and the situation would get worse, perhaps tied up in the courts for years, costing us millions in taxpayer money.
If we have to go down this road, and given Kwame's refusal to step down and motions to try to drag this out, it appears we must, we have to do it by the numbers so it can't be overturned later. It would be nice to have the Brady Bunch resolution and pull him now - but we have a system in place for a very good reason: you don't want to give any one elected official that kind of power.
For more than 100 years, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that this requirement of notice and a reasonable opportunity to present a defense means an accused public official threatened with removal from public office must be given a hearing at which he may offer proofs in his defense.
As recently as 1968, the Michigan Supreme Court reviewed then-Governor George Romney's attempt to remove a county officer from office and emphasized that fair and just treatment must be guaranteed in such a process because it is a "quasi-judicial proceeding" and the governor's power must be exercised in such a fashion as to afford due process.
Due process. What a concept. One that Dick DeVos would throw out whenever he decides that an official, elected by the people, can't "effectively serve". Serve Dick, that is.
Something to keep in mind should a certain someone choose to run for governor in the future.
"Will our Lansing legislators finally find the will to act, or will they wimp out again on energy policy as the jobs exodus from Michigan continues? We'll find out this week." - Tom Walsh, Detroit Free Press 8/10
No, Tom, we won't. As predicted, the Senate Republicans are choosing to kick the can down the road for one more month by canceling today's session - the only one scheduled for August. But hey, what's another month, right? Not like Michigan needs the jobs or anything.
"We've got to have people understand that every day we wait, job providers are going somewhere else. We just lost one, as a matter of fact. A turbine company took us off their list because we don't have a renewable portfolio standard."
Senate Republicans, famous for springing their legislation at the last minute and holding dead-of-the-night votes without the chance for debate, suddenly need more time to "review" whether or not they want to bring economic prosperity and environmental responsibility to our state. Seems like a no-brainer to the rest of the educated world and the 28 states that have gone before us, but as they tell MIRS...
Some Senate Republicans contend that the complex nature of legislation warrants a thorough review.
"First of all, we need to see it in writing," said Sen. Patty BIRKHOLZ (R-Saugatuck).
Puh-leeze, girlfriend. Not buying that excuse. Not when Republicans have acted with lightning speed before when it came to blowing up the state budget. But we will buy the fact that the Senate Republicans are now using the election as an excuse for their inaction on energy. Watch Marsden give it away with this next statement.
The rumor going around Lansing late in the afternoon was that Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) had blown up the deal and asked that both sides return to square one.
Bishop Spokesman Matt MARSDEN pointed the finger at Democrats, who he said really wanted the bills passed before convention time.
Yeah, like last April, Matt. Or maybe June. Just who is playing politics here? Senate Republicans have stalled on this package until "convention time", and now want to use that against the Democrats and claim the bills are for political gain only. Which is, of course, complete and utter bullshit, but pretty much par for the course when it comes to Senate Republican obstruction.
The Bay City Times is the latest newspaper that calls for action. They review the tax credits passed to entice Hemlock Semiconductor to expand here, and add this on at the end...
We need another nudge toward this goal from our lawmakers in Lansing - one that would cost the state nothing.
Yet, the 7 percent renewable energy standard for Michigan by 2015 that the state Senate passed last month is laughable. It doesn't even reach the way-too-low standard that the House set in April - 10 percent.
Let House and Senate conference committee delegates exercise those puny targets into something with broad shoulders - 20 percent by 2020, or even a 25 percent renewable standard by 2025.
Bold statements are what are needed in order to move Michigan closer to the top of the new race toward sources of clean, renewable energy.
The only "bold statement" Senate Republicans are willing to make is that they will go anywhere and say anything to deny our state progress, and they are doing it in the name of partisan politics. Although the main players say they are "close to an agreement", this delay, and the excuses that have followed, are all the proof you need.
Birkholz noted there are political conventions and Labor Day weekend to contend with.
"House members are anxious to get back out and campaign," she noted. "They have election year concerns."
Republicans have "election year concerns" as well - preventing Michigan from gaining jobs and investment. They need things to be bad in order for Saul's talking points to stick. Always keep that in mind.
I like Tom Walsh. I really do. He is one of my favorites. But today's Freep column entitled, "Will lawmakers' fears cost state new energy policy?" misses the mark on just who is responsible for the delay in getting this work done. Just like last year's budget crisis, short government shutdown, and the subsequent MBT surcharge mess all of that created, the press erroneously tries to spread the blame evenly between both chambers on the energy bills - and that is just plain wrong.
Michigan's legislators appear poised to blow it again.
Poised to punt away a chance to create thousands of jobs.
Poised to again display cluelessness, rather than leadership, about the need for a bold, new approach to energy policy.
Members of the state House and Senate do have a chance this week to redeem themselves, to earn respect from a citizenry that sadly has come to expect ineptitude.
Walsh goes on to tell us that they can vote this Wednesday for energy bills that "set a target that 10% of Michigan's power come from renewable sources by 2015, boost energy efficiency efforts, and set the stage for construction of new, cleaner power plants by DTE Energy and CMS Energy". Sound familiar? That is because the House passed this back in April with strong bipartisan support.
Why would the Senate Republicans deny Michigan this job creating opportunity? Could it be that the Mackinac Center was against it? How about Dick DeVos? You know that these are the players that are pulling the strings in the Michigan Republican Party. They are calling the shots, and they didn't want this to happen. Came right out and said so. Mike Bishop got his orders from his owners and decided to drag this out as long as he possibly could. When the Senate finally got around to moving the bills in late June, once again they passed legislation in the dead of night with changes made that they knew would be unacceptable to the House and the governor in a move that was widely condemned by, well, nearly every newspaper in Michigan, and further delayed this process. Time for vacation!
And you know what? It worked. Now, the excuse is "the election".
A Lansing lobbyist told me Friday that the Legislature probably will delay acting on the energy bills until the lame-duck period after the November elections, or until next year.
The reason? Fear of casting a vote that might irk some citizens just before the election.
And if they had done it back in April, that wouldn't be an issue now, would it? No. We could have joined the other 28 states that are already enjoying job growth and investment from implementing a renewable portfolio standard.
Granholm, who has been aggressively recruiting advanced energy and other clean-technology firms to locate in Michigan, told me Friday that she has been embarrassed -- during talks with global energy firms and journalists from national publications -- to admit that Michigan still has no target for renewable energy.
"I keep telling my staff, we have two years and four months left in office," Granholm said. "When we look back at this extended period of economic crisis, will we be able to say we used it to really diversify the economy and change the mind-set of our citizens?"
Even T. Boone Pickens, the legendary Texas oilman and Republican Party activist, is now an outspoken advocate for wind, solar, natural gas and other energy alternatives.
Will our Lansing legislators finally find the will to act, or will they wimp out again on energy policy as the jobs exodus from Michigan continues?
We'll find out this week.
And once again, the blame is spread across the board, even though House Democrats got the job done months ago. It was Senate Republicans who held up the budget process last year, it is the Senate Republicans holding up the energy policy this year. Want proof? Just follow all these links, or hit my diaries and start reading back. It's all there.
Lost in all the dismal numbers about Michigan's unemployment rate was this interesting fact - we actually gained jobs in May.
Despite the high unemployment rate, the state had a net increase of 6,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs in May, according to a monthly survey of employers.
About 3,000 of those were in manufacturing, which rebounded slightly as strikes ended in the auto industry. Leisure and hospitality services added about 4,000 jobs while professional and business services added about 3,000.
Was it enough to meet the huge increase in demand? No, obviously not. There is no getting around the fact that the number of people looking for jobs far outweighs what is available out there, but indications are that is exactly what this statistical jump is - an influx of summer job seekers pushing the numbers up.
The rush of people looking for summer jobs swelled the size of Michigan's labor force, then pushed up the unemployment rate when they were unsuccessful, said Rick Waclawek, director of the state's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.
Waclawek and other economists cautioned not to read too much into this month's numbers. It could take a few more months of information to determine whether the May rate symbolizes a long-term increase or if it's a temporary statistical blip.
Charles Ballard, an economist with Michigan State University, said the state has not seen a one-month jump in the monthly rate this large since at least the mid-1970s. That makes him wonder about the accuracy of the estimates.
"I never like to put too much stock in one-month numbers," Ballard said. "The most important thing you can do is look back in a couple of months and see if this holds."
The bad news is that it might hold - and, we still have shed thousands of jobs overall this year. If you remember, economists had predicted earlier this year that our unemployment rate was going to jump to around 8% or higher in 2008 before it leveled out and started to go back down in 2009. Now, due to the national recession, they are pushing that recovery back into 2010. Crain's points out that due to the rising energy costs and the credit/mortgage crunch, top CEOs have been looking to cut costs - and that is coming in the form of labor. National unemployment numbers last month also saw the highest jump since the 80s.
Every month so far this year, cautious employers have eliminated jobs. The unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April, the biggest one-month rise in two decades.
CEOs are still an optimistic bunch, with 70% predicting they will hold their current employment levels or even increase payroll - although that number is down from 78% in April. They are nervous, though, and they are "tempering their expectations" about overall economic growth.
So, Michigan, what do we do now, here at home, that will help start to turn these numbers around? For starters, we can completely ignore Mike Bishop, who immediately pulled out Dick DeVos Talking Point No. 1 - "Cut Government", which has absolutely no bearing on job creation whatsoever. Matter of fact, we lost 3000 government jobs lost month, which only adds to the unemployment rate. According to MIRS, the Senate response to the unemployment numbers was to stop working for almost an hour, probably waiting for Dick to call on the bat phone and give them their marching orders.
Jump over the flip to watch the usual strings get pulled...
As cleanup continued and power was restored to Manistee Friday afternoon, Governor Jennifer Granholm made a scheduled appearance at a fundraiser reception for Dan Scripps, Democratic Candidate for Michigan's 101st State House, after viewing storm damage in Mason and Manistee Counties.
"I am thrilled to be here to support you because we really need you in Lansing. I know you came close last time, but this year we are going to have this surge, this wave of people coming out to support Democrats and I hope you all agree that it is time for a change in not only in Washington, but your support here allows for there to be a change in your representation in Lansing.
Check out this Obama press call with Governor Granholm and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz - seems Granholm is a bit miffed that McCain is reaching out to Clinton supporters and independent voters on women's issues. She reels off what is quite possibly the longest run-on sentence that I have ever heard her utter, and that is saying something. The governor rips McCain on being anti-choice and anti-privacy - and also goes after McCain donor Clayton Williams. Wasserman-Schulz does the same for other women's issues such as equal pay. Smackdown!
Granholm speaks to Michigan issues such as trade, jobs, and manufacturing - praising Senator Obama for his policies and pitching the Obama appearances here next week. Wasserman-Schulz speaks to the foreclosure crisis and the difference between Obama and McCain's plans on helping homeowners.
The governor also tells us that she has been assured by Senator Obama that Michigan's delegation will get full votes at the convention.
Interesting press call, about 15 minutes long. Take a listen.
"We're going to challenge this Legislature to do the right thing," said Bishop, R-Rochester.
Bishop and other Republicans are up on the island vowing to fix the surcharge on the MBT once again, trying to placate business and obfuscate the truth on how this all came about in the first place. Gallant Mike issues the "challenge" - too bad he didn't want to "do the right thing" and show some leadership on this issue last year.
We wouldn't be having this conversation now if Republicans had behaved like responsible adults in the first place. Want more proof? If you won't take it from me, the one who pointed this out repeatedly last year, take it from Phil Power, who spells it out for us in a recent column.
A few days ago, I received a lengthy e-mail from a lawmaker (who wishes to remain anonymous) but who offers some valuable insights. Bottom line: "The service tax was the direct result of the brinksmanship of the GOP leadership in negotiations and (the) lack of GOP members (in) responding to the requests of their traditional supporters in the business community."
So, the GOP was intent on playing gotcha politics rather than attend to the needs of business. Go on, Phil -
That's pretty stunning (Ed note: not to those that were paying attention) - and here's my attempt to put this all into context: Leading up to the critical votes, both the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Chamber tried hard to persuade legislators to pass an income tax increase big enough to cover the entire deficit.
Why? Simple: To avoid additional business taxes. The House of Representative figured it out. There, Democratic Speaker of the House Andy Dillon and other leaders tried repeatedly to pass a 4.7 percent income tax that would have resolved the budget crisis without resorting to the service tax.
But neither of the Republican leaders in the legislature - Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop nor House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche - was willing to step forward. They urged their members to hold back and let the Democrats take the political hit for a vote for more taxes. At one point, it looked as though there were as many as 10 Republican representatives ready to vote for an adequate income tax hike, but DeRoche wouldn't budge.
"Business" needs to know that they were used as pawns in the Republican partisan game - and they also need to question Bishop's sincerity about fixing the problem now. The Senate already tried an irresponsible slash and burn method of cutting the MBT surcharge that was DOA in the House; they just cut revenue without taking responsibility for showing where they would cut spending, which is their standard method of operation. Why? They don't want to be the ones who are tagged with slashing education or health care or prisons or any of the other things that they are so willing to spend all that money on in an attempt to look good to their constituents. They want to have their tax cuts and eat them too.
Most of this might be much ado about nothing anyway. Most businesses received a cut in taxes from the MBT - and others are just now (or in the very near future) figuring out that their liability is not as large as the Republicans are making it out to be.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Thursday she's willing to listen to changes business owners want, as long as they don't jeopardize vital government services by dramatically cutting into state revenue.
But Granholm cautioned that the tax is new and still in its shakedown phase. Cuts in business owners' personal property taxes, for example, won't show up until the July tax cycle, she said.
"They may just not be aware of their tax cuts yet," Granholm said.
So to sum it up, not only are Republicans responsible for this situation that they are now crying loudly about, chances are they are over-exaggerating the ramifications of their mistake and once again trying to use it as a partisan weapon rather than being sincere about tackling the reality of taxes and spending.
The question now is - should business really trust Bishop and Co. to fix something they have repeatedly screwed up? Take a long, hard look at your "friends", business owners, and ask yourself whether they can trusted to do right by you. They are so desperate for "issues" that they have no problem selling you down the river and playing the game of CYA later. It's about time you realized that.
Wednesday began early for our team with a 7 a.m. flight to Amman, Jordan for the last leg of our 2008 Middle East jobs and investment mission. As we flew into Queen Alia Airport, the dramatic change in terrain became clear. Where Israel is lush and green sitting right on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is desert. Amman, the ancient capital of the Hashemite Kingdom, has sandstone architecture, olive and banana trees, but none of the trees and greenery that Americans are used to. It is a truly beautiful and historic place.
From there, we left Jerusalem for an afternoon of meetings in Haifa -- a city north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean. On our journey, we passed through the Carmel Mountains -- a wine-growing region also known for its many artist colonies. Haifa was breathtaking -- situated high above the sea. Anyone who loves wine country in California would feel right at home here.
Our first meeting was with the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert. He was very interested in our economic plan and what the future holds for Michigan in the 21st century. He was so pleased to hear that we would be signing a joint declaration of strategic cooperation on water technologies, with Israel later in the morning. Like me, the Prime Minister believes that Michigan has the resources and Israel has the technology to create great synergy on this important issue. The Prime Minister is no stranger to Michigan, having visited friends in the Detroit area many times. He's even had the chance to take in a Pistons game!
Shalom from Israel! I write to you from the Middle East where I am on my seventh overseas jobs and investment mission - part of my strategy to go anywhere, do anything to diversify our economy and bring jobs home to Michigan.
