Subject: FW: Talking points and issues from the Governor's Office
Talking Points

Friday, July 17, 2009

 

We are resuming sending out talking points on current issues for the governor’s friends and family.  Talking points will be issued the final day of every work week.

 

American Graduation Initiative / State Education and Job Training Efforts

President Obama’s $12 billion American Graduation Initiative supports the governor’s education and job training efforts in Michigan.

 

Since 2004, the Granholm administration has implemented several initiatives to prepare students for success in college and the workplace, as well as to ensure that workers of all ages have the training they need for 21st century jobs.

 

Talking points:

Michigan’s graduation requirements are now among the toughest in the nation so that all students finish high school ready to succeed in college.

• Every Michigan child is now taking a college prep curriculum in high school.

• Every child now takes a college admissions test.

• Early College High Schools around the state let students earn both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in just five years of study.

• The Michigan Promise scholarship, the state’s first universal college scholarship, helps nearly 100,000 Michigan students afford college.  Although the state Senate recently voted to eliminate the Michigan Promise scholarships, the governor vows not to allow this to happen.  Families already have budgeted for these funds.  The governor said we will not break the promise of this scholarship to students and their families.

• For adults who are unemployed or looking to upgrade their skills, the governor’s No Worker Left Behind program can help.  No Worker Left Behind provides up to two years of free tuition at a community college, university or technical school.  Through June 30 of this year, almost 82,000 Michigan workers have capitalized on this opportunity.

 

Law Enforcement Grants

The governor announced that the state awarded more than $41 million to 93 different state, county and local agencies to help local communities bolster law enforcement activities and create or retain jobs.  The $41 million comes from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program included in the federal Recovery Act.

 

Talking points:

• Grant money will help law enforcement agencies enhance public safety by putting additional police officers on the street.  The money also can be used to target gang activity and specific high-crime areas.

• Funds also can be used for multi-jurisdictional task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, technology upgrades and information-sharing initiatives.

• The funds are particularly helpful given reduced revenue sharing for local communities.

 

Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention

The governor announced conceptual plans for a Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention in downtown Lansing.

 

A Michigan Center for Innovation and Renovation Board will examine establishing the MCIR in a transformed Michigan Library and Historical Center through a partnership with Michigan State University, the city of Lansing and possibly other public and private partners.

 

The board is created by Executive Order 2009-36 that also abolishes the Department of History, Arts and Libraries and transfers that department’s functions to various other state departments, agencies and commissions.

 

Talking points:

• MCIR would promote understanding of state history and the cultural diversity of Michigan citizens; education of children and adults in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and enhanced competitiveness of Michigan citizens in the world economy through research and education.

• The center would draw upon Michigan’s rich history of entrepreneurship for lessons to help stimulate the innovations needed for today’s knowledge-based economy.

• Elimination of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries is part of an ongoing effort to streamline state government.  This will be the third state department eliminated during the Granholm administration, plus more than 150 state boards and commissions.  Lt. Governor John D. Cherry Jr., at the governor’s request, is leading an even broader review of state government that could eventually result in the number of state departments being reduced to eight.

 

Settlement of Female Prisoner Litigation

Based on the advice and recommendation of the attorney general, the governor authorized a settlement of pending litigation against the Department of Corrections that predated the Granholm administration and resulted in the governor ordering policy changes early in her tenure.  According to the attorney general, the settlement is in the best interests of the state because in the long run it will save the state millions of dollars.  The class action litigation involved the claims by up to 500 female prisoners of sexual assault, abuse and harassment by male corrections officers.  Under the terms of the settlement, the department has agreed to implement various measures to further improve its internal procedures with respect to grievances and complaints by female prisoners alleging sexual harassment or assault by male prison staff.  The department also has agreed to pay the plaintiffs $100 million over six years, with the first payment of $10 million to be paid on Oct. 15, 2009.

 

Talking points:

• This settlement was based on the advice and recommendation of the attorney general.

• By settling the litigation, the state will save millions of dollars.

• The plaintiffs’ claims in these cases predate the Granholm administration.  At the direction of the governor, the Department of Corrections changed the staffing of the housing units in female correctional facilities to specifically address and reduce sexual assaults and sexual harassment by male corrections staff toward female prisoners.  The department also implemented policy and training changes to improve its investigations of grievances and complaints related to sexual assaults and sexual harassment by male staff against female prisoners.

 

# # #

AP: Granholm applauds Obama's college retraining plan
Granholm told reporters following Obama's speech Tuesday at Macomb Community College that the federal plan would help workers in the state with the nation's highest unemployment rate.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/national-35/1247608853230050.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE AMERICAN GRADUATION INITIATIVE
DETROIT FREE PRESS: Video: Obama in Warren: New skills are key
DETROIT NEWS: Obama pledges $12B for community colleges

First of all, one of the best governors in the country, please give Jennifer Granholm a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Lieutenant Governor John Cherry -- give John a big round of applause.  (Applause.) . . . Now is the time to create the jobs of the future by growing industries, including a new clean energy economy.  And Jennifer Granholm has been all on top of this as the governor of Michigan.  She is bring cleaning [sic] energy jobs right here to Michigan, and we've got to support her in that effort.  (Applause.) . . . We will not fill those jobs -- or even keep those jobs here in America -- without the training offered by community colleges.  That's why I want to applaud Governor Granholm for the No Worker Left Behind program.  (Applause.)  It's providing up to two years' worth of free tuition at community colleges and universities across the state.  The rest of the country should learn from the effort.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-the-American-Graduation-Initiative-in-Warren-MI/
http://www.freep.com/article/20090715/NEWS06/907150345/1001/NEWS/Obama-in-Warren--New-skills-are-key
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090715/POLITICS02/907150361/1031/Obama-pledges-$12B-for-community-colleges

WEYI-TV: MI officials comment on President's speech
“Five years ago, we embarked on an aggressive agenda to double the number of college graduates in Michigan with bipartisan support through the Cherry Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth,” Granholm said.  “Today, we have a partner in the White House who is helping to ensure that our plans for education and job training have the support they deserve.” Lt. Governor Cherry noted that the president’s visit to Michigan confirms what we know:  higher education is the key to economic success for individuals and the state of Michigan. “We know from our work on the Cherry Commission that long-term prosperity for the people of Michigan will come through greater access to higher education,” Cherry said.  “President Obama clearly understands this, and it is validation of our efforts in Michigan that he would announce this significant federal investment in higher education today here in Macomb County.”
http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=324402

GRAND RAPIDS PRESS: Editorial: OK, California: Let's deal
There's no sense putting more people on the unemployment line if we can prevent it. Ms. Granholm deserves credit for seeing an opportunity and grabbing it. Neither state's budget woes will be solved by this arrangement. But it could spare some communities in Michigan state-inflicted pain. If the deal is right, that's not just California dreamin' -- for the Great Lakes State or the Golden one.
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/07/editorial_ok_california_lets_d.html

WEYI-TV: Video: Genesee County gets crime fighting cash
FJ: Gov. Jennifer Granholm awards $5 million in police grants to Genesee County; crime in south Flint to be targeted
Announcing the grants Wednesday, Governor Jennifer Granholm said the money will help clean up the streets and incorporate technology.  “What those Recovery Act dollars mean is that people can shore up technology as well as (additional) bodies on the street,” Granholm said. . . . Governor Granholm said Genesee County’s tight money situation made it ideal for federal help in tough times. “We determined that particularly in communities that have seen a reduction in revenue sharing, it’s really important to support those communities in law enforcement.  I think that’s why you see Genesee County doing so well,” she said.
http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/video.aspx?id=325118
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/07/gov_jennifer_granholm_awards_5.html

MLIVE: Gov. Granholm: Southeast Michigan public safety units will pocket grant money
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/07/gov_granholm_southeast_michiga.html

FARM FUTURES: Final Push for Higher Ethanol Blend Made by Growth Energy and NAEDA
Midwest governors agree and send letter to EPA 
In a related development, governors from 10 Midwestern states have asked EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to increase the blending levels of ethanol to 15%. In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm wrote that the Midwest has vast natural resources, the scientific know-how, and the skilled workforce necessary to lead the world in the production of climate-friendly biofuels. She said these strengths must be capitalized on in order to promote the use of low carbon fuels across the country. Granholm chairs the Midwestern Governors Association.
http://www.farmfutures.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=CD26BEDECA4A4946A1283CC7786AEB5A&nm=News&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=E63BCAED98A04522912EF600A14EC2C3

BAY CITY TIMES: Caro company says increasing ethanol-gas blend could pump up jobs in Michigan
Growth Energy estimates increasing the blend rate to 15 percent would create 136,101 new jobs and inject $24.4 billion a year into the American economy.
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2009/07/increasing_ethanol_in_gasoline.html