In case you missed it, yesterday Governor Granholm moderated the first White House regional forum on health reform in Dearborn with Gov. Doyle of Wisconsin and Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.  As President Obama said in his video message yesterday, "the crushing cost of healthcare is battering our businesses and squeezing our states."  As a result of the uneven international healthcare playing field, cars and other goods can be produced at less cost in Canada than the United States making our companies less competitive while our citizens still don't have access to the care they need or deserve.  President Obama is committed to reforming health care this year, and has opened up the process to the public, in town meetings and over the Internet, at healthreform.gov.

To learn more about the current state of health care in America and reforms that could make our businesses more competitive, click here to watch Governor Granholm yesterday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" discussing why health care needs an 'American' solution. At yesterday's forum, the Governor helped solicit questions and input on health reform from the audience, and the White House is collecting the feedback and will present it to the President. Submit your idea to healthreform.gov, or to @govgranholm on Twitter!

Stay tuned to jennifergranholm.com to learn more about how Governor Granholm is moving Michigan forward!

Thanks,

Granholm Leadership Fund

Our very own Governor Jennifer Granholm appeared on "Fox News Sunday" this morning to discuss President Obama's economic recovery package and why supporting our domestic auto industry is so important.

She participated in an around the table discussion with Republican Governors from Minnesota (Governor Pawlenty) and South Carolina (Governor Sanford). This discussion just goes to show how out of touch Republicans really are.

During the program, Governor Granholm stated that there are some states that wont accept the stimulus money. To that she replied, “So you better believe I’m going to take every dollar that is coming to Michigan. And if my colleagues here in Minnesota and South Carolina don’t get — don’t use theirs, I’m going to be first in line to say for my people, for our citizens, to put people to work and to make sure that they can survive through this, I’ll take their dollars, too.”

During the course of the discussion, Governor Granholm made two really strong arguments. First, why shouldn't we step up to the plate and help our auto industry when every other single country that has an auto industry is? Secondly, why even have a stimulus package if we are going to ignore the auto industry crisis? The stimulus is suppose to save/create 3.5 million jobs, which would all be erased if the auto industry continues on its current path. Communities in South Carolina and Minnesota would also be affected if this were to happen.

Overall, our Governor did a superb job debating Governor Pawlenty and Stanford. She stated the facts and defended our state and its industries. You go Gov!

In case you missed it, you can view a small clip of the show below.

- J.H.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm laid out a new plan on Tuesday to restore Michigan's economy by creating jobs, training and educating citizens for those jobs, and through protecting our families. Currently, Michigan faces many serious economic problems and they are likely to get worse before things get better. However, Governor Granholm stated: "...if there is one thing I want you, the citizens of Michigan, to know this
evening, it is this: Things will get better."

During her speech, the Governor announced new ideas to continue reforming Michigan government. Lt. Governor John Cherry will lead and develop a new plan to modernize state government. This plan will include items such as expanding the use of technology, reducing the number of state departments, and reforming our service system.

The Governor also addressed a new goal for the year 2020. The goal calls for Michigan to reduce its use of imported energy and fossil fuels by 45 percent. By doing this we will move towards energy independence while taking advantage of the national growing demand for renewable energy, which will also create new jobs in Michigan.

Those were just a few highlights of her State of the State address. Other plans that were addressed by Governor Granholm include (This information can be found at www.michigan.gov):

- maintaining our fiscal responsibility through additional budget cuts and reforms.  In her budget she will propose next week, the governor will recommend elimination of the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, ending state financial support for the two state fairs, returning enforcement of wetlands protections to the federal government, and continuing to reform our criminal justice system to further reduce the corrections budget.

- freezing college tuition for the next academic year to ensure that families are not priced out of a college education as the result of rising costs.

- helping citizens keep their homes through passage of the Home Foreclosure Prevention Act to give families at risk of foreclosure up to 90 days to work out a financing arrangement.

- freezing insurance rates for 12 months while the Legislature works to enact comprehensive insurance reform to ensure that Michigan drivers have access to solid coverage at fair and affordable rates.

- protecting access to health care during this time of economic crisis.  The governor asked legislators to renew their commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens by refusing to cut people off of health care.

Click here to read her complete address or if you would like more information on her seventh State of the State address.

-J.H.