What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Thursday, March 11,
2010
Granholm Joins Other
Governors in Supporting President Obama’s Funding Request for Manufacturing
Extension Partnership
Governor Granholm and 17 other governors are supporting
President Obama’s funding request for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(MEP) in the 2011 fiscal year. MEP is the only public-private program
dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized
manufacturers.
In a letter to congressional appropriations leaders, the
bipartisan group of governors requested that MEP be funded at $129.7 million for
the 2011 fiscal year, the level of support requested by the
president.
“We strongly believe that this nation needs to continue
its leadership in the global manufacturing economy,” the governors wrote.
“The MEP program is an essential part of the effort to restore this
leadership. Working through centers in every state and Puerto Rico, MEP
professionals extend objective consultation to thousands of small manufacturers
across
In their letter the governors noted that the economic
downturn has increased pressure on state budgets and diminished the ability of
states to share the costs of the program.
“Without strong federal support, the MEP will be unable
to maintain its mission of serving small manufacturers’ increasing needs,” the
governors wrote. “At a time when economic recovery is the national
priority, we believe the MEP continues to be a wise
investment.”
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership has proven
highly effective in creating and retaining jobs, increasing investment and
sales, and realizing cost savings for companies in
Governor Applauds
Introduction of Employee Retirement Legislation
The governor today applauded the introduction of
legislation that will save hundreds of millions of dollars by reforming the
state employee and public school employee retirement systems and, in the
process, encourage approximately 47,000 eligible public employees to retire this
year. The changes are part of 29 government reforms outlined by the
governor in January to transform
Separate bills were introduced today in the Michigan
Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives. The state employee
retirement reform bills are Senate Bill 1226, introduced by State Senator Mark
Jansen, R-Grand Rapids, and House Bill 5954, introduced by State Rep. Chuck
Moss, R-Birmingham. The public school employee retirement reform bills are
Senate Bill 1227, introduced by State Senator Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, and House
Bill 5953, introduced by State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton.
The governor said final legislative action is needed on
the bills by April 1 to accommodate the retirement application window outlined
in the bills.
Details on the bills can be found in the press release
that will be posted later today on the governor’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov.
Key
messages:
###