February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010
Granholm also will meet with Obama administration officials on Asian Carp and small-business development efforts
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will be in Washington, D.C. this weekend for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) where the nation's governors will discuss national health-care reform and job-creation across the country. The governor also will meet with Obama administration officials to discuss the continuing threat of Asian Carp and Michigan's ongoing efforts to grow jobs and diversify the state's economy.
"There must be a sense of urgency about getting health-care reform and a national jobs bill done, helping job providers and manufacturers across the country," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said. "These meetings will further our collaboration with states and the Obama administration to help make health-care affordable and accessible for all and create jobs across the country and in Michigan."
Granholm will use the NGA meeting to work with her gubernatorial and federal administration colleagues to push for a federal jobs bill that both creates jobs for Americans and ensures that states are not hindering a national economic recovery by laying off teachers, police officers and other workers. The governors expect to have a number of discussions with the administration and Congress throughout the weekend to make sure that any national jobs bill both creates jobs and prevents further job cuts.
A central theme of the meeting, "Rx for Health Reform: Affordable, Accessible, Accountable," will focus on states' role in health-care reform - particularly in ensuring a high-quality, efficient, and coordinated health-care system. This is the NGA chairman's initiative led by Governor Douglas (R-VT). Throughout the weekend, Granholm will highlight ways in which Michigan has already protected and expanded health care and discuss how federal dialogue of health-care reform will affect Michigan.
Granholm also will meet with Cabinet secretaries including Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. She will also meet with Small Business Administrator Karen Mills to discuss small-business development efforts in Michigan. In addition, Granholm will hold meetings with both U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and the Premiers of the Canadian provinces to discuss efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes, including efforts to protect the lakes from the threat of Asian carp.
On Monday, the governor and her colleagues will travel to the White House to meet with President Obama and other senior administration officials to discuss the implementation of the national jobs bill, small-business initiatives, and other issues facing the nation.
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