G4G Talking points for 09-21

[SharonRB]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (47 Days until Victory 2006)

Governor Granholm spoke at a bio-economy summit yesterday, highlighting her efforts to make Michigan a leader in alternative energy technology.
This year, nine ethanol and biodiesel plants have opened or been announced, and Governor Granholm set the aggressive goal of having 1,000 biofuel pumps in Michigan by the end of next year and signed into law incentives to promote further development.
Creating Jobs by Investing in Alternative Energy: The first round of grants from the Governor’s 21st Century Jobs Fund included nearly $9 million for alternative energy development, including companies like Diversified Natural Products in Mason County and KTM industries in Eaton County.
Fighting Back Against Outsourcing and Unfair Trade: While Dick DeVos lobbied for unfair trade policies, Governor Granholm is supporting our manufacturers with targeted tax cuts, and she is encouraging investments in industries that will diversify our economy and create jobs that cannot be outsourced.
Abandoning Michigan’s Students? The Michigan Democratic Party reported yesterday that as a Grand Valley State Board member, DeVos missed more than half of his meetings, and after being appointed by John Engler to the State Board of Education, DeVos quit just two years into an eight-year term.

Headlines from Around the State

WLNS News: Local Biodiesel Conference
Leaders from across the nation are in Lansing discussing the future of bio-diesel. Discussions include developing ethanol and promoting more bio-fuel gas pumps across the state. Many also stressed the importance of making Michigan a leader in bio-diesel production. Gov. Jennifer Granholm: "There is an incentive to do it, there aren't any, other states are investing like we are in the businesses that are creating those alternative fuels, so we don't even think that a mandate is necessary because everybody wants to get there fast." Nine ethanol plants have already opened in Michigan in just the last nine months.
Click here to read the full story... http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=5434500

The Grand Rapids Press: Furniture production for hotel outsourced to China
When Alticor was planning its J.W. Marriott Hotel, now rising downtown, company founder Richard DeVos made it clear he wanted the furniture to come from a Michigan manufacturer. But Hekman Furniture Co., which won the contract, is closing its Grand Rapids factory and plans to have most of the furniture built in China. Alticor officials are not happy about the decision, but plan to go ahead with the contract… That is a sensitive subject for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, since Democrats have accused him of outsourcing Alticor jobs to China. DeVos was not available for comment Tuesday, but John Truscott, his campaign spokesman, said: "He's got nothing to do with the decision making about the hotel."
Click here to read the full story...http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-32/115875570225740.xml&coll=6

The Grand Rapids Press: Democrats question DeVos' commitment
Democrats planned to criticize Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos today for his poor attendance record on the Grand Valley State University Board of Control in the 1990s and the State Board of Education prior to that. "Dick DeVos, during his time at GVSU, was not there for public school students of the state," said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer, who scheduled a press conference this morning at the GVSU campus in Allendale… Gov. John Engler appointed DeVos to the GVSU board in 1996. DeVos resigned in 2000 after missing 16 of 27 meetings. Previously, DeVos was elected to the State Board of Education. He left in 1993, two years into an eight-year term, after making 42 of 53 meetings.
Click here to read the full story... http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-32/115876388645780.xml&coll=6