October 26, 2005

Governor Criticizes Rejection of Plan to Bring 400 Jobs to Constantine

LANSING – Governor Granholm today criticized legislative Republicans for backing away from a bipartisan agreement that would have paved the way for 400 jobs to be created in Constantine in St. Joseph County. 
 
“Republican legislators have voted against 400 jobs in Constantine,” said Granholm. “The working men and women of St. Joseph County need to ask their lawmakers:  If it is right to create jobs in Cadillac and Delta Township, why is it wrong to create jobs in Constantine?”
 
Granholm noted the irony that Republican leaders would reject her targeted compromise for Constantine after approving similar legislation to provide targeted tax breaks for companies locating in Delta Township (PA 118 of 2005) and Cadillac (PA 185 of 2005).   Just today, lawmakers gave committee approval to HB 5050 that would provide targeted tax breaks to a company in the Flint area.

The Granholm Administration offered a compromise on Senate Bill 175 to provide targeted tax abatements to job providers locating within 15 miles of a Michigan border in an effort to pave the way for a company to locate in Constantine.  Competition for warehousing business is particularly fierce along Michigan borders where communities must compete against Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana tax incentives. 
 
Republican leaders rejected the Governor’s compromise choosing, instead, to pass an expensive, untargeted tax bill that doesn’t guarantee new jobs.
 
 “This is a perfect example of the Republican leadership putting their personal politics ahead of jobs for working men and women in Southwest Michigan,” Granholm said.  “I stand ready to sign legislation that will provide important tax abatements for companies wanting to locate in Constantine but unfortunately, Republicans are choosing to play politics instead.”