February 22, 2007

Will promote efforts to transform economy, highlight alternative energy

LANSING - This weekend, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will attend the 2007 National Governors' Association (NGA) Winter Meeting in Washington D.C. where she will join governors from across the country to discuss issues related to competitiveness and innovation in the 21st century.  While in Washington D.C., Granholm will meet with governors and members of the Bush administration to promote Michigan's efforts to transform the economy and restructure state government to ensure we are positioned to compete and win in the global economy.
 
"With new leadership in Congress, we have new opportunities for federal action to stimulate 21st century economic growth," Granholm said.  "We must push those in Washington to be a partner in executing our economic plan and to bolster 21st century job growth by expanding access to affordable health care, enforcing trade policies to ensure a level playing field, and investing in our workers by providing retraining tools essential to providing a strong middle class."

Granholm will co-lead a discussion with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab on the impact of the president's trade agenda on the states, and will discuss the "NGA 2007 Energy Project" with other governors.  The project, which the governor helped to establish, is a bipartisan effort to identify and promote a package of federal energy priorities that will maximize governors' energy efforts.  Priorities of the project include expanding the alternative fuel standard, enhancing transportation fuel efficiency, extending renewable energy tax credits, and promoting advanced technologies.

Making Michigan a hub of alternative energy research and production is a key part of the governor's economic plan.  Granholm has targeted alternative energy as one of the four key sectors for diversifying our economy as part of the 21st Century Jobs Fund, put fuel tax incentives into place that make biofuels more cost competitive, provided incentives to have 1,000 biofuel pumps available to Michigan drivers, and called on the Legislature to pass an aggressive renewable portfolio standard for the first time in the state's history.

Granholm will also meet with the president and senior administration officials on national policy issues, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), No Child Left Behind reauthorization, REAL ID implementation, alternative energy initiatives, and the impact of the federal budget proposal on the states.  The governor will also attend sessions on regional economic growth strategies and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

While at the winter meeting, Granholm plans to talk with governors and meeting attendees about the upcoming annual NGA Summer Meeting to be held in Traverse City this July.

First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern will attend NGA with the governor.  While in Washington D.C. Mulhern will deliver the keynote address at the "Women and the Courage to Lead in the Company of Men," presentation sponsored by the Women & Politics Institute.  Mulhern will speak about the ways in which women lead, as well as the opportunities and challenges they face, and the corresponding challenges and opportunities presented to the men who are their partners, peers, allies, and rivals.  Granholm will also attend the event.