April 26, 2005

Calls legislative action a "no brainer"

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said yesterday she will continue her efforts to protect Michigan children from adult-rated video games and urged the Republican-controlled legislature to act quickly.
 
“As a mother, it’s my job to make sure my children are protected.  As Governor, it’s my job to make sure every child is protected,” Granholm said in her testimony. “Making sure children do not have access to violent or sexually inappropriate video games is a common sense step that we can all agree on.”
 
Granholm made her comments at a public hearing hosted by Senate Democrats, including Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) the sponsor of the legislation.  Clarke’s bill would make the sale or rental of mature or adult-rated video games to minors a misdemeanor under Michigan law.
 
Granholm has a long history of involvement in child protection issues. As Attorney General, she formed the High-Tech Crime Unit in conjunction with the Michigan State Police to crack down on on-line child pornographers and child predators.  Attorney General Granholm took on retailers who made alcohol and cigarettes available to children and shut down websites that sold the ingredients to make GHB, the date rape drug.
 
“We limit children’s access to cigarettes, alcohol and pornography because we believe it’s important to their development,” Granholm testified.  “We should offer the same protections from violent and sexually-explicit video games when the evidence of their impact on children’s behaviors and attitudes is clear.”
   
Granholm first issued a call to the legislature to adopt Clarke’s bill in her State of the State address earlier this year.  The call received an overwhelming ovation from Democrats and Republicans, alike.   

 “In my State of the State address, I called on the legislature to enact this important reform,” Granholm said.  “Today, I reissue that call.  This is not a partisan issue.  This is a no-brainer.”