Radio Address: Signing the MBT into law

by: TheConversation

Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 15:56:33 PM EDT

UPDATE: This afternoon, Governor Granholm signed SB 94 into law, officially enacting the Michigan Business Tax. You can read the press release by clicking here.

For the podcast of Governor Granholm's weekly radio address, click here.

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

I'm proud to say that a new Michigan Business Tax is headed to my desk, and I am looking forward to signing it into law. This is another critical, critical plank in Michigan's comprehensive economic plan.

With this Michigan Business Tax, Michigan is open for business. Now, we can give companies the peace of mind of knowing what to expect on tax day. And we have made sure that Michigan's taxes will keep our businesses competitive, and will help them create Michigan jobs.

This is a critical step for Michigan, both in strengthening businesses that are already here, and for attracting new businesses to our state.

We already have so many great advantages when we recruit businesses. We've got a highly skilled workforce, some of the best colleges, universities and community colleges in the world. We have a high quality of life that makes Michigan attractive to businesses and to families.

This latest plank in our comprehensive economic plan joins the 21st Century Jobs Fund, the Michigan Promise scholarship, and our Go Anywhere, Do Anything approach to bringing jobs to Michigan. With all of these efforts, and more, we are laying a solid foundation for Michigan's future.

With the 21st Century Jobs Fund, we are diversifying Michigan's economy and creating new jobs in cutting-edge industries like life sciences, advanced manufacturing and alternative energy.

The Michigan Promise scholarship is giving all students the opportunity to continue their education beyond high school, at either a four-year college or a two year community college, or technical training program with a $4,000 scholarship to every student in Michigan.

And, I continue to go anywhere and do anything to bring good jobs to Michigan, so that workers of all ages have great opportunities to be successful in Michigan. In fact, Bosch Corporation, a German company that is the world's number one automotive supplier, just opened their new Technical Center in Plymouth Township with 400 employees. Ever since I first met with Bosch executives in Germany in 2004, they have been a great partner to our state. And this recent investment is $37.5 million in this Plymouth facility.

Our highly competitive Michigan Business Tax will further bolster Michigan's position as a great place for businesses to grow and create jobs.

Thank you for listening.

Governor's message to Michigan

by: TheConversation

Thu Jul 05, 2007 at 15:34:35 PM EDT

Hopefully everyone had a great 4th of July and is settling back in to the workday routine. Or, if you're really lucky, you get to relax right through the weekend! Hopefully you already saw Governor Granholm's message to Michigan either on television or online at www.jennifergranholm.com/message. Just in case, though, I'm posting it below.

Radio Address: The New MBT

by: TheConversation

Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 15:48:56 PM EDT

For the podcast of Governor Granholm's weekly radio address, click here.

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

This week I was pleased to announce an agreement on a new business tax structure for Michigan.

This new Michigan Business Tax will encourage job creation and make Michigan more competitive for businesses. That, in turn, will help us to ensure that our people have the tools that they need to be competitive and successful in Michigan.

This is a win for Michigan businesses, a win for citizens, and a win for our economy.

I first laid out a plan to make Michigan's business tax structure competitive way back in 2005, and I'm glad that we finally got it done. Our agreement shows what can happen when we work in a bipartisan fashion to do what is right for Michigan.

We're creating a pro-growth structure that will provide a tax cut for more than seven out of ten Michigan businesses. It provides tax cuts for small businesses and for our major manufacturers. It's simple, it's fair, it will encourage research and development, entrepreneurial ventures and, most important, job creation.

However, this new Michigan Business Tax is just one part of a comprehensive approach to building a secure future for our state. We're still facing a $1.8 billion budget shortfall which starts in October.

That means we need to continue to look for places to cut spending and save taxpayer dollars.

We need to reform how government works so that we can cut costs without compromising services that are vital to businesses and citizens alike.

We need new revenues so that we can continue to invest in the things that will bring new businesses and new jobs to our state things like strong schools, a highly skilled workforce and safe communities.

With the financial stability of a comprehensive solution, we can put on a full court press to recruit jobs and businesses to Michigan.

In fact, just this past week I helped announce a new great business that is choosing Michigan. John Deere the guys who make tractors and Wolverine Power are coming together to build Michigan's first wind farm. It will consist of 32 wind-powered turbines that will create enough electricity to power more than 15,000 Michigan homes. Our economic plan is focused on diversifying into cutting edge sectors like alternative and renewable energy. And this energy project is another positive sign for the state.

With our new Michigan Business Tax, we will be even better positioned to bring more promising, job-creating projects to Michigan.

But now we need further progress on solving this budget crisis so that we can continue to push forward with Michigan's aggressive economic plan with everything we've got.

Thank you for listening.

Republican Legislators need to Sh*t or get off of the pot!

by: JWinston70

Wed Feb 14, 2007 at 15:18:28 PM EST

There are many who dislike the Governor's proposed budget for one reason or another.  But, as Legislators... I find it irresponsible to leave Michigan budget-less, forcing our schools, statewide, to make mid-year cuts.  If the Repubs have any plans, then it is their responsibility to bring them forth.  From the past legislative session, now in to the new session... I have yet to see the Repubs offer any alternative.  They prefer to sit back and scrutinize the work of others, rather than doing the work themselves.