G4G Talking points for 10-12

[SharonRB]

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 (26 Days until Victory 2006)

“You can expect Dick DeVos to do what he always does: stick up for big business and Bush environmental policies, at the expense of everything else, in this case, Michigan’s environment. Governor Granholm is the only candidate focused on building the economy and protecting our environment.” – David Holtz, director of Clean Water Action on endorsing Governor Granholm.

Fighting for More Corporate Tax Breaks: Dick DeVos announced that he will support eliminating another business tax at the expense of Michigan citizens. The tax pays for education, health care, police and fire coverage, and prisons.


Environmental groups including the League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club endorsed Governor Granholm yesterday.


The groups cited Governor Granholm’s her record of protecting the Great Lakes from large diversions and dumping of toxic waste, protecting 270,000 acres of forest, and working to reduce mercury emissions 90% by 2015.


The Michigan Democratic Party yesterday directly disproved one of DeVos’ central defenses of his China investments, uncovering Amway goods that were imported from China as well as customs documents approving Amway imports from China. Click here to read more details…http://www.michigandems.com/101106prs.html


The Detroit Free Press: DeVos' tax proposal slammed -- Cities, schools upset; spokesman defends plan
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos' assertion that he'd eliminate personal property taxes on businesses dropped a $1.7-billion bomb on the fractious election-year issue of taxes and state spending. DeVos' remarks during Tuesday's debate with Gov. Jennifer Granholm furthered his support for a drastic overhaul of business taxes, compared to Granholm's more measured approach. He also piqued concern among schools and local governments, which rely on personal property taxes. Personal property taxes will generate $760 million for schools statewide and $916 million for local cities and townships this fiscal year. The taxes are based on business assets and equipment, including heavy industrial machinery, and are collected by local governments. "Michigan cities are operating with a fiscal noose around our neck. Eliminating the personal property tax would be like kicking the chair out," said Summer Minnick, lobbyist for the Michigan Municipal League.
Click here to read the full article...http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061012/NEWS06/610120393

The Associated Press: League of Conservation Voters endorses Granholm
The Michigan League of Conservation Voters on Wednesday endorsed Jennifer Granholm for re-election, saying the Democratic governor vastly improved the state's environmental record during her first term. "Those who understand the nuances and importance of protecting the Great Lakes, preserving the state's spectacular public lands and moving toward a future of cleaner energy, such as Gov. Granholm, should be the ones leading us into the 21st century," the league's director, Lisa Wozniak, said in a news release. The organization praised Granholm for setting new standards that would reduce mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants by 90 percent by 2015, signing legislation to protect Michigan waters from large-scale withdrawals, and calling for the development of an energy plan for the state. The league warned that Granholm's Republican opponent, Dick DeVos, has funded organizations such as the Midland-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy that support drilling for oil in the Great Lakes and selling off state parks to raise money for the state.
Click here to read the full article... http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-38/1160607875186280.xml&storylist=newsmichigan