October 7, 2005

Governor Highlights State's Recognition as One of Nation's "Best Managed" at Governing Conference

LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today highlighted her administration’s work to create a government that works better for citizens while spending taxpayer dollars more efficiently.  Granholm said that putting the state’s fiscal house in order was a critical step in growing the state’s economy.   

“As we work to attract job providers through our Michigan Economic Development Corporation and our jobs missions abroad, it is important that companies know they are dealing with a state that will ensure a great quality of life and a great environment to operate a business,” Granholm said.  “That means running a tight ship in Lansing.” 

The Governor’s radio address mirrors comments made in a speech delivered this morning before hundreds of state and local officials from across the nation attending a conference sponsored by Governing magazine, entitled:  Governing Conference on Managing Performance 2006. Governing magazine this year named Michigan the third best-managed state in the nation.
 
Since taking office, Granholm has put Michigan’s fiscal house in order, eliminating nearly $4 billion in deficits by doing everything from selling off state-owned cars and planes to turning off the lights at night in state buildings.  Michigan’s state government is now operating with the fewest number of employees since 1974 and the lowest inflation-adjusted tax revenues since 1970.
 
By cutting wasteful spending, more resources are available to devote to job creation in Michigan.  Governor Granholm has called for an economic development package that gives $4,000 in scholarship money to students who pursue college and technical training and creates a $2 billion fund to attract new job providers.
 
“The more efficiently we spend out resources – the citizens’ resources – the more successful we’ll be in these steps to grow our Michigan economy,” Granholm said.

The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across that state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  The address will also be available on the Governor’s Website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.

Broadcasters Note: Governor Granholm’s radio address can be accessed through Sunday evening exclusively through the Members Only page of the Michigan association of Broadcasters website.
 
Publishers Note: The text of today’s address is attached.