Hi, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Promises should be kept, not broken. It’s time for the Michigan Senate to take action and keep the Michigan Promise.

The Michigan Promise is the state’s first universal college scholarship. It is a cornerstone of our administration’s long-term economic plan for our state, a plan that includes doubling the number of college graduates. Starting with the high school seniors who graduated in 2007, every Michigan student who attends college or technical school is eligible for a $4,000 scholarship.

This year, 96,000 students and their parents banked on the Michigan Promise. They budgeted for the money promised to help them pay for school.

Unfortunately, the higher education budget that was passed by the legislature for this fiscal year included no money for the Promise scholarships. Since that time, the Michigan House has approved a bill which would restore the Promise scholarship for this academic year. But that legislation now languishes in the Michigan Senate. The Promise has been broken.

Not only does breaking the Promise hurt students who were rightfully expecting their scholarship money, it also damages Michigan’s economic future. We need a workforce equipped with the education and training needed for 21st century jobs. We need to keep the Promise.

During the next two weeks I’ll be visiting college campuses across Michigan to talk with students and educators about the Promise scholarship. My stops will include Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, CMU, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State and Oakland Community College.

At those campuses I’ll be talking about everything we’re doing in state government to create jobs and transform Michigan’s economy. And that the most important, long-term strategy for transforming Michigan’s economy, bar none, is education.

Our ability to reshape and diversify our state’s economy is wholly dependent on having a skilled, educated workforce. The Michigan Promise scholarship helps students acquire this education and training, and it’s central to our economic diversification strategy.

I’ll continue to fight for the Promise scholarship, and I invite you to add your voice to the fight. Here’s how you can help.

Contact your state senator and say we must keep the Promise. If you don’t know who your senator is, you can find out by checking the Senate Web site at senate.michigan.gov. Or you can call 517-373-2400. That phone number again is 517-373-2400.

At this crucial point in Michigan history, we can’t afford to shortchange our students. They are our future. They’re Michigan’s future. We need to invest in them through the Michigan Promise scholarship. Contact your state senator. Tell them they need to keep the Promise. Thank you.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today encouraged residents across the state to observe Veterans Day by giving thanks to the brave members of our armed forces for their sacrifices and commitment to Michigan and to the United States throughout the years.

The governor also issued a proclamation honoring distinguished Michigan citizens who serve our country and proclaimed November Hire a Veteran Month in Michigan to promote the hiring of qualified veterans.

“I applaud the patriotic spirit and sacrifices of the distinguished Michigan citizens who have so proudly served our country, and I urge the residents of this state to recognize our veterans and military personnel with public ceremonies and private reflection,” Granholm said.

The Michigan National Guard continues to train for both overseas combat missions and to keep the homeland safe. Thousands of soldiers and airmen have deployed overseas where they’ve provided base and convoy security with the Iraqi military police, contributed medical support in Iraq and supplied administrative support in Kuwait. They’ve trained the Afghani army in everything from military tactics to establishing a successful civilian government.

This past summer, approximately 1,500 soldiers were trained at Camp Grayling using the National Guard’s Exportable Combat Training Capacity, which is the latest high-tech digital system that allows for increased opportunities to learn the latest training and tactics needed to survive on the battlefield.

The Michigan National Guard participated in the Capital Area response exercise last month with state and local emergency responders and are gearing up to host the multi-agency, multi-state Vigilant Guard 2010 Domestic Response Exercise this spring.

To date, more than 180 Michigan men and women in uniform have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many, many more have been wounded in combat.

“On this Veterans Day, let’s all say thank you to our brave members of the armed forces, past and present, for their sacrifices, commitment to Michigan, and their commitment to the United States of America,” Granholm said. “Those who have given their lives, who are serving, and the families who sacrifice so much will continue to be in our prayers.”

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Twenty-first century jobs require 21st century minds. If Michigan is to compete in the global economy, all our children have to have world-class education and skills.

That’s why the news of Michigan being chosen for a new teaching fellowship program is so exciting. This program is going to train 240 new math and science teachers to teach in middle and high schools that desperately need teachers in these subjects – math and science. Over a period of five years, almost 20,000 Michigan public school students will receive high-quality education in science, technology, engineering and math from these new teachers.

This statewide teaching fellowship program is made possible by a $16.7 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The result is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship. Michigan is now one of only three states – the others being Indiana and Ohio – who have been chosen for this teaching fellowship.

The candidates who will be recruited for these 240 teaching fellowships will be a diverse mix. They can be college seniors, recent college graduates, people who have changed careers, or veteran educators. They also could be engineers or other professionals who have recently lost their jobs in this tough economy. Regardless of their backgrounds, they’ll all need two key attributes: expert knowledge and an enthusiasm for teaching young people.

This fellowship will be transformational not only for teachers and students but also for the Michigan universities that will educate the new math and science teachers. That’s because participating universities will first have to agree to overhaul their teacher education programs. Existing math and science programs will be replaced with new ones based on collaboration between the schools of arts and sciences and education.

There are many details that are still to be worked out. In January, the participating universities will be announced as will the Michigan school districts where these new teachers will be placed. And, of course, the 240 teachers need to be recruited and trained.

The most important thing, though, is that vulnerable students in high-need schools are going to receive innovative, high-quality instruction that otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten. As John F. Kennedy once said, “A child miseducated is a child lost.”

No child will be lost in Michigan thanks to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship.

The Michigan teaching fellowship is an investment in the future of our children, the future of our workforce, and the future of Michigan. It will transform education for both children and teachers, and it will prepare 21st century minds for 21st century jobs.

Thank you for listening.

Governor Granholm addressed the American Wind Energy Association’s Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition at Cobo Hall in Detroit today; WXYZ brings us the story:

Nearly 1,700 people are in town to take part in the American Wind Energy Association conference. The governor says she’s encouraged by that because attendance for the conference surpassed expectations.

The governor pitched the state as a great home for the wind industry because of our manufacturing base. She told the conference that our state would be the perfect place to build the turbines and other components necessary to turn air currents into power.

Many who attended were interested in how auto suppliers can produce the parts for wind turbines. The governor says that’s encouraging because if the auto suppliers can get business from the wind industry, they can diversify and become less reliant on business from the struggling auto industry.

From the state release:

Granholm noted that the state’s tremendous manufacturing expertise was put to work when Detroit and Michigan were called upon to be the nation’s Arsenal of Democracy in World War II.

“Today, as our nation faces the challenges of combating climate change and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, Michigan again is ready to serve,” Granholm said. “We are ready to be the arsenal of clean energy for the United States and the world.”

The governor said Michigan is well-positioned to be a leader in wind energy manufacturing given the state’s manufacturing talent and infrastructure and its geographical location which enables wind products to be shipped via the Great Lakes. She added that the state is helping the wind industry in areas such as capital acquisition, job-training, and research.

“We already have more than 70 companies in Michigan involved in wind manufacturing,” Granholm said. “Wind companies looking for a great place to invest need to come to Michigan.”

112 exhibitors are displaying the latest wind small turbine technology at Cobo, and the attendance of 1,700 makes it the largest conference and workshop outside of the association’s annual WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition. Read more about the AWEA here.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that she has signed the final budget bills for the 2010 fiscal year, ensuring that government operations will continue without interruption, and pledged to keep fighting for the priorities that are important to Michigan families.

“Michigan has a budget in place but not the budget we need,” Granholm said. “I will not pretend that this is a good budget. This budget cuts, rather than supports, Michigan’s most pressing priorities: educating our children and helping them pay for a college education, maintaining health care for our most vulnerable citizens, and keeping police officers and fire fighters on the streets of our communities.”

While Granholm recognized that the state’s budget must be cut to bring spending in line with revenues – she has already cut more than $10 billion from state budgets, more than any governor in history – she said the 2010 budget cuts go too far.

“The Legislature’s budget makes cuts that are too deep and too painful to Michigan’s people,” Granholm said. “The Legislature’s failure to enact a budget that supports children or college students or affordable health care does not in any way diminish their importance as our priorities, and I will continue to fight for them. I believe the people of Michigan want great schools for their kids, want us to make college and health care affordable, and expect us to keep their streets safe. They are allies in this battle.”

While the governor signed budget bills for Community Health; Energy, Labor and Economic Growth; Human Services; Michigan State Police; general government, and higher education, she did use her veto pen to eliminate unnecessary spending.

“If there was something in the budget that we didn’t have enough money to fund completely, I vetoed it,” Granholm said. “If there were special earmarks, mistakes or bad policy, I vetoed them.”

In all, the governor vetoed $127 million in spending for the 2010 fiscal year and noted that had she been able to add revenue to the budget or veto special interest tax loopholes out of it, she would have done so.

Following are the six budget bills signed by the governor:

Department of Community Health

The total operating budget for the Department of Community Health for fiscal year 2010 is $13.1 billion, including $2.3 billion in general fund money.
The budget sent to the governor by the Legislature made significant reductions to vital programs, including an 8 percent reduction to Medicaid providers who serve approximately 1.7 million Michigan citizens and a $40 million reduction to community mental health programs.

“I continue to support additional revenues to restore these drastic reductions to essential services,” Granholm said.

Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth

For the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, the total operating budget is $1.4 billion, which includes $55.1 million in general fund money. The budget includes a total of $124.2 million for the state’s No Worker Left Behind program to provide Michigan workers with the skills, training and education needed to transition to jobs in high demand and in emerging industries.

The budget also increases unemployment insurance administration funding by $18 million to provide additional staff to assist Michigan workers filing unemployment insurance claims.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has a total operating budget of almost $6 billion, including $860.3 million in general fund money.

The governor expressed concern that several programs supported by general fund dollars, including employment and training programs, child welfare improvements, child day-care and juvenile justice, were all drastically reduced from her executive recommendation to meet legislatively-negotiated targets with which she did not agree.

“These general fund reductions create a potential shortfall in state maintenance of effort and match requirements for critical federal block grants that fund child day-care services and basic assistance for low-income families,” Granholm said. “I am concerned about the impacts on vulnerable citizens in the face of these shortfalls.”

The governor also said she was concerned about the lack of funding to maintain operations at the Nokomis Challenge Center and the community juvenile justice centers.

“These facilities were funded for only one quarter of the fiscal year, and no funding was included to provide alternative placements for the youth currently served by these programs,” Granholm said. “I believe these facilities are critical in providing necessary, specialized substance abuse treatment and transition services for youth offenders, and the budget presented to me fails to adequately address the needs of these youth under state care.”

Department of State Police

The total operating budget for the Department of State Police is $527.3 million, of which $267.3 million is general fund money.

“I am pleased this bill includes funding for the additional forensic laboratory casework resulting from the closure of the Detroit Crime Laboratory,” Granholm said.

However, the governor expressed concern over the Legislature’s elimination of funding in the school-aid act for school bus inspections.

“While I clearly support school bus inspections for the safe transport of students, without proper revenues, school districts and intermediate school districts are left with no resources to pay the Department of State Police for school bus inspection services,” Granholm said. “Because this is an unfunded mandate, I call on the Legislature to appropriate the necessary resources for this critical service in an effort to protect the safety and security of our most precious resource: our children.”

In the interim, the governor has directed the State Police to identify resources within its budget for transfer into the school bus inspection program so bus inspections can continue.

General Government

The general government budget provides funding for the departments of Attorney General, Civil Rights, Information Technology, Management and Budget, State and Treasury. It also includes funds for the Executive Office, Michigan Legislature and legislative Auditor General, plus funding for revenue sharing and debt service.

The total budget for general government is $3 billion, which includes $626.9 million in general fund money. For most departments, the budget reflects general fund reductions of 10 percent.

Revenue sharing grants total $991.6 million. Cities, villages and townships will receive $936.3 million, while counties eligible to receive resumed state payments are funded at $55.3 million.

Higher Education

Total spending for higher education is approximately $1.6 billion, which includes $1.5 billion in general funds and $68 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – State Fiscal Stabilization Fund funding. State university operations are funded at $1.5 billion, a 0.4 percent reduction from current year funding.

“This funding allows our 15 public universities to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow and to conduct research leading to scientific breakthroughs and future economic development,” Granholm said.

The governor noted that the $84.5 million appropriated by the Legislature for student financial aid is a reduction of $135 million – more than 61 percent – from the current year. The budget reduces funding for state competitive scholarships by $17.9 million and totally eliminates nursing scholarships, the Michigan Work-Study Program, the Part-Time Independent Student Program, and the Michigan Education Opportunity Grants.

“I am particularly disappointed that the bill includes no funding for the Michigan Promise scholarships, and I strongly encourage the Legislature to get to work on finding the resources to keep this commitment to our students,” Granholm said. “We must keep the promise.”

Hello this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

At Michigan State University, the words “Go Green!” now have a new meaning, as in, “green economy”. For almost a century, the services provided by MSU Extension have concentrated on assisting farmers and our state’s agricultural community.

And now, MSU Extension is transforming itself into a 21st Century organization, one that will broaden its scope, and help to grow Michigan’s green economy.

This is a work in progress. MSU Extension has developed a vision and programs for supporting and promoting a green economy, and is now seeking feedback from its external partners, like state government.

Structural changes in MSU Extension will be announced in the months ahead. While agriculture and its role in the green economy will continue to be important for MSU Extension, there will also be new areas of emphasis.

MSU Extension will assist local communities across Michigan in working together for regional prosperity. And, it will focus on specific areas, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. Using energy efficiently is the lowest cost way to help meet our future energy needs. Making houses more energy efficient not only reduces utility bills for homeowners, it also creates green jobs for the people who install the insulation, and perform other energy-saving work.

In the field of renewable energy, MSU Extension will assist in developing community-based wind and solar energy projects, as well as support the growth of biomass-based companies. Biomass is plant material that is used to produce energy. MSU’s Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, partnering with MSU Extension, already is working on biomass and energy issues.

Another focal point for the new MSU Extension will be urban farming and regional food systems. Many people in our state’s large urban areas don’t have enough access to fresh produce. That’s because there is a lack of grocery stores in many of our cities. Many residents don’t have the means to shop at grocery stores outside the city. So as a result, many people living in urban areas have high obesity rates, and disproportionate rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Urban farms can take vacant lots in our cities and put them to productive use, growing fresh fruits and vegetables for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get them.

As Michigan continues to grow its green economy, MSU Extension will be there to help. Its new programs and partnerships will spur innovation, economic development, and regional cooperation.

As we build the new economy based on clean energy, we can all agree that now is the time to “Go Green!”

Thank you for listening.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping seven companies grow in Michigan and is backing three brownfield redevelopment projects. Combined, the 10 projects are expected to create 2,815 new jobs (1,507 direct and 1,308 indirect), retain 150 jobs, and generate over $254 million in new investment in the state.

The projects include the expansion of an auto supplier, an information technology center in Detroit, a new corporate headquarters in Delta Twp. (Eaton County), and brownfield redevelopments that will transform abandoned and contaminated sites into new centers of economic growth and activity. In addition, previously announced alternative energy projects received key support to move the projects forward.

“Our strategy to diversify and grow Michigan’s economy continues to produce results for Michigan workers,” Granholm said. “The scope of these company expansions and redevelopment projects demonstrates that we have the competitive business climate and high-skilled workforce that companies are looking for as they compete in today’s economy.”

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board today approved incentives to win the following projects for Michigan over competing states and countries:

• Ohio Module Manufacturing Co. – The manufacturer of complete chassis module for the Jeep Wrangler plans to invest $21.4 million to locate a Michigan facility in Detroit to produce products for Chrysler’s Jefferson plant. The project will create 673 new jobs, including 200 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 473 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $1.8 million over five years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio.

• Strategic Staffing Solutions – The Detroit-based provider of information-technology consulting, staffing and vendor-management programs plans to invest $7.3 million to open a new information technology center. The project will create 802 new jobs, including 437 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 365 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $3.8 million over five years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in North Carolina. The city of Detroit is considering an abatement to support the project.

• Auto-Owners Insurance Group – A provider of life, home, car and business insurance plans to invest approximately $105 million to expand its corporate headquarters across from the company’s existing site in Delta Township. It is anticipated that the project will create 1,270 total jobs, including 800 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 470 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $23.1 million over 10 years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in other states in the region. Delta Township is considering an abatement to support the project. Construction of the project is expected to begin after 2012.

• Williams International Co. – The manufacturer of small gas turbine engines used in military, industrial and commercial aircraft applications plans to invest $12 million to renovate and upgrade its facility in Commerce Township. The project will retain 150 jobs, including 72 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will retain an additional 78 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $1.4 million over five years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Utah. Commerce Township is considering an abatement to support the project.

• Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC (JCS) – The Holland-based manufacturer of advanced batteries has been approved for an Anchor Jobs incentive. Under this designation, a company that attracts or influences a supplier or customer to locate or expand in Michigan can qualify for tax credits. The company was also approved for a Plug-In and all-electric traction battery pack credit valued at up to $20 million over three years to support the manufacture of battery packs using lithium-ion technology. Last April, the MEGA board approved a battery cell manufacturing MBT credit valued at up to $100 million over four years and a high-tech MEGA credit over 15 years for the construction of an advanced-battery manufacturing facility. In total, JCS will invest approximately $220 million and create up to 1,096 new jobs, including over 2,000 indirect jobs.

• Clairvoyant Energy Solar Panel Manufacturing Inc. – The company plans to invest $856 million (over four phases) at the former Ford Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom to manufacture solar panels. The project is expected to create over 750 direct jobs over the next five years in addition to nearly 4,600 indirect jobs. The company was approved for a photovoltaic MBT credit earlier this month. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $31.2 million over 15 years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in other states.

• Xtreme Power Inc. – The Texas-based clean-tech company plans to locate in the renewable energy park at the former Ford Assembly Plant in Wixom. The company plans to create 7,211 new jobs, including 2,500 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 4,700 indirect jobs. The company was approved for a battery cell manufacturing MBT credit earlier this month. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $106 million over 20 years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in other states.

• Buena Vista Charter Township – State and local tax capture valued at $1.7 million will help prepare the former Fort Saginaw Mall, which has been closed since the 1990s, for new development. To prepare the site, blighted structures will be demolished. The project will generate $9 million in new capital investment.

• City of Mount Clemens – State and local tax capture valued at $189,600 will support a historic-preservation project consisting of a complete renovation of a former fire station building located downtown. Renovations will include extensive interior demolition; lead and asbestos abatement; upgraded electrical, plumbing and HVAC; and new light fixtures. The project will generate $820,000 in new capital investment and is expected to create up to 10 new jobs.

• City of Parchment – State and local tax capture valued at $49.6 million will redevelop the 93-acre Crown Vantage paper manufacturing facility. The overall project will include revitalizing a heavily contaminated site. Upon completion, development will include 30,000-square-foot office building with parking, attached and detached residential units, and various parks and trails. The project will generate $100 million in new capital investment and is expected to create up to 60 new jobs.

The jobs and investment numbers for Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC, Clairvoyant Energy Solar Panel Manufacturing Inc., and Xtreme Power Inc. have previously been announced and are not included in today’s jobs and investment totals.

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA), the state’s response to interstate competition for company expansions and relocations, may provide a refundable tax credit against the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) to companies expanding or relocating their operations in Michigan. Since January 2009, more than 81,000 new and retained jobs have been announced as a result of the MEGA program.

For more information on the MEDC’s initiatives and programs, visit the Web site at www.TheMEDC.org.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that a new report completed by the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (attached below) shows that tens of thousands of No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) graduates have gained or retained employment as a result of the program. The NWLB Outcomes Report provides data covering 62,206 people who enrolled in training between August 2007 and February 2009.

“In 2007, we created No Worker Left Behind to help Michigan workers get the education and training they need to compete for 21st century jobs,” Granholm said. “This report shows that the program is producing results by helping tens of thousands gain or retain jobs. With this data, it is no surprise that No Worker Left Behind has become a model for national workforce policy.”

The data provides information about the duration and type of training participants receive, whether they have found jobs and whether those jobs are related to their training. Overall, 34,355 NWLB participants completed training, and of those who completed training, 72 percent or 24,699 either obtained or retained jobs. Another 9,656 were still looking for jobs.

During the period studied, the percentage of unemployed and underemployed workers enrolled in workforce training in Michigan was double the national average.

The core participants of NWLB are those workers who are unemployed and underemployed. Of those participants, 48 percent found new jobs despite double-digit unemployment rates across the state.

Eighty-six percent of those who found jobs acquired one related to their NWLB training, which is an indicator that NWLB is training workers for in-demand jobs and meeting employer needs.

Among those still enrolled in NWLB, 77 percent were in long-term training, which is more than triple the national percentage of people in long-term training. Long-term training allows workers to develop skills and credentials valued by employers, which dramatically increases their ability to find good-paying jobs.

Read the entire report here.

Throughout my tenure as Michigan’s governor, I have stressed how critical education is to our state’s economic health and its future. We’ve made it our goal to have the best educated workforce on the planet, and we’ve expanded opportunities for Michigan citizens of all ages to go to college or get the technical training that they need for good-paying jobs.

This week, I took two actions to defend all the progress we’ve made in education from a serious threat – the Legislature’s failure to fully fund the school aid budget.

On Monday, I signed that school aid budget so that our schools could keep operating. Because it was not a balanced budget as required by law, I also made over $54 million in line-item vetoes. But even cuts of that magnitude, didn’t solve the problem.

On Thursday, I announced that state law would require an approximately $127 per-pupil cut in school funding unless the Legislature acts within 30 days to find the revenue to restore this funding.

Why did I take these actions? Because in simple terms, the school aid budget that arrived on my desk was a bad check that bounced almost as soon as it was written. In fact, our state treasurer found that there was a gap between the amount the Legislature voted to spend on our schools and the amount they set aside to pay for it. Clearly, that is unacceptable, and it threatens our schools with deep cuts months into the new school year.

If these cuts aren’t restored over the next month, school districts across Michigan will begin making painful adjustments in their own spending. Teachers and support personnel will be laid off. Class sizes will increase, and the many programs that make our schools rich and rewarding experiences for our children will be lost.

We cannot afford to let that happen, and we won’t. Citizens across our state are speaking out loudly about the need for new revenues for our schools. And there are already signs that lawmakers in both parties are willing to do what’s right to fund our schools.

In fact, our state House has actually passed several measures to increase revenues to fund critical needs in our budget, and they are ready to do more. There’s no reason our state Senate can’t follow suit.

The key is hearing from you. If you share my belief that we need to provide our schools the critical funds they need, I hope you will speak out.

When our schools are hurting, Michigan’s future is in danger. So let us work together for stronger schools and a better Michigan.

Thank you for listening.

Your can contact your House Representative here, and your Senator here.

Governor Granholm was in Grand Rapids today to speak to educators about this problem, and she answered some question from WOOD TV’s Rick Albin. Watch the video below:

Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern sat down with Maria Shriver to discuss the changing roles of women (and men!) in America for the series “A Woman’s Nation”, running through Wednesday on the Today Show.

To see the whole series, check out NBC’s web page here. Also, read Dan Mulhern’s blog post on his experience at his site, “Reading For Leading”.