Jennifer Granholm outlines national job creation strategy
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who turns over the reins to Rick Snyder on Jan. 1 after eight years in office, outlined a national job creation proposal in a column Thursday in the Huffington Post.
Granholm said the U.S. needs to use federal economic development funds to fuel a "moon shot" that she referred to as a "Jobs Race to the Top," a take-off on the "Race to the Top" program for the nation's education system. She said the program should award funds to public-private partnerships in states committed to creating clean energy jobs.
She said the program could create 3 million jobs over the next three years -- a proposal she repeated in a version of the column posted to Politico.com under the title "How to Win the Race for Jobs."
"An Energy Jobs Race to the Top is likely to ensure that America will actually be at the table to feast on this explosively growing jobs sector — instead of watching our global economic competitors eat our lunch," Granholm wrote.
The proposal is drawing a wide range of reactions. Here are a few:
Detroit News: David Gard, energy program director with the Michigan Environmental Council, calls the proposal "ambitious."
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Detroit Free Press: Ron Dzwonkowski hints that "if President Barack Obama is impressed enough to launch a program to implement just such a 'moon shot' strategy for job creation, he’ll need somebody to run it."
MLive.com: Susan Demas said that, in the column, Granholm "telegraphed her desire to be U.S. Energy secretary."
Mackinac Policy Center's Michigan Capitol Confidential: The proposal "shows that the governor can fiddle louder than anyone while Rome is burning," Mackinac fiscal policy analyst James Hohman said. "She's presided over eight years of Michigan's decade-long recession. She continues to brag about her favors to selective industries while ignoring structural reforms that can address the reasons why Michigan is in bad shape."
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
ypsidog
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 : 8:38 a.m.
@ Pjohn3 May I select for you the Coney Island Whitefish? It is always firm and well prepared. What physical mality of Snyder's will we be able to tease about for the next 4 years? IE: "The Grandmole"?? All that was so positive and supportive, now, was it not? the dog
G.W. Williams
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:49 p.m.
The best thing we can do to improve Michigan's chances of recovery are scrapping the personal property tax and reducing the Michigan Business Tax. These taxes are sending our economy into oblivion. There are so many ways we can do this without bankrupting our state or hurting essential programs such as education, roads and public safety. Learn how with the Michigan Turnaround Plan. http://www.michiganturnaroundplan.com.
Pjohn3
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:25 p.m.
Isn't Jennifer Granholm and job creation an oxymoron? And to comment on those already bashing Snyder, why would you not want this guy to succeed? Do you really want to be the 49th out of 50 states on many economic fronts? Come on Ypsidog, you're better than that.
Bertha Venation
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
At this point, I'll wish ANYONE in office well if they can clean up this mess. [btw. Hi David!;)]
Bertha Venation
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
uh. Ya...I'm not so sure.. It would be nice, but it kind of sounds to me like she may be jockeying for her next position.
David Briegel
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 3:02 p.m.
Top Cat, I preferred the ending of the show. "Baby, You're The Greatest"!!
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.
snyder fail? what state are you (ypsidog and eyehearta2) living in? can't be michigan.
ypsidog
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
You all just wait, we'll see what "Tough Nerd Boy" can do!! Bet he craps his nest in short order. the dog
Top Cat
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.
To the Moon Alice.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:31 p.m.
wow, all these previous posters beat me to it... i particularly like the matt millen reference. if we're not in dire straits now, surely we will be...and don't call me shirley.
KeepingItReal
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:22 p.m.
Wow! What Nerve.
tdw
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:19 p.m.
Are we " blown away yet "?
Hillbillydeluxe
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
watch out she's trying to spend six million on same sex benefits that Michigan voters turned down,before she leave office
Mike58
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.
I'm speechless!
Ken from Saline
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
Having Govenor Granholm comment on job creation stategy is like asking Matt Millen what it takes to run a successful NFL team. You did such a fine job at running Michigan---goodbye Jennifer!
r treat
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:47 a.m.
Four words. Are, You, Kidding, and Me.