No. 6
STATE OF MICHIGAN
JOURNAL
OF THE
House of Representatives
93rd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2005
House Chamber, Lansing, Tuesday, February 8, 2005.
6:00 p.m.
The House was called to order by the Speaker.
The roll was called by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who announced that a quorum was present.
Accavitti--present Emmons--present Leland--present Robertson--present
Acciavatti--present Espinoza--present Lemmons, III--present Rocca--present
Adamini--present Farhat--present Lemmons, Jr.--present Sak--present
Amos--present Farrah--present Lipsey--present Schuitmaker--present
Anderson--present Gaffney--present Marleau--present Shaffer--present
Angerer--present Garfield--present Mayes--present Sheen--present
Ball--present Gillard--present McConico--present Sheltrown--present
Baxter--present Gleason--present McDowell--present Smith, Alma--present
Bennett--present Gonzales--present Meisner--present Smith, Virgil--present
Bieda--present Gosselin--present Meyer--present Spade--present
Booher--present Green--present Miller--present Stahl--present
Brandenburg--present Hansen--present Moolenaar--present Stakoe--present
Brown--present Hildenbrand--present Moore--present Steil--present
Byrnes--present Hood--present Mortimer--present Stewart--present
Byrum--present Hoogendyk--present Murphy--present Taub--present
Casperson--present Hopgood--present Newell--present Tobocman--present
Caswell--present Huizenga--present Nitz--present Vagnozzi--present
Caul--present Hummel--present Nofs--present Van Regenmorter--present
Cheeks--present Hune--present Palmer--present Vander Veen--present
Clack--present Hunter--present Palsrok--present Walker--present
Clemente--present Jones--present Pastor--present Ward--present
Condino--present Kahn--present Pavlov--present Waters--present
Cushingberry--present Kehrl--present Pearce--present Wenke--present
DeRoche--present Kolb--present Phillips--present Whitmer--present
Dillon--present Kooiman--present Plakas--present Williams--present
Donigan--present LaJoy--present Polidori--present Wojno--present
Drolet--present Law, David--present Proos--present Zelenko--present
Elsenheimer--present Law, Kathleen--present
e/d/s = entered during session
Rep. Tom Meyer, from the 84th District, offered the following invocation:
"Lord as we begin another historic evening in the state legislature. Let us keep in mind Your guidance for the Representatives, Senators and for all the elected officials in the state of Michigan, that do the work of the people of this state. Keeping in mind that what we do, is inconsequential in light of the work that Your son did for us on the cross. Now we would ask that You bless this session. We give You the praise and honor in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."
Reports of Standing Committees
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The following report, submitted by Rep. LaJoy, Chair, of the Committee on Transportation, was received and read:
Meeting held on: Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Present: Reps. LaJoy, Gosselin, Meyer, Casperson, Nitz, Moore, Pavlov, Pearce, Anderson, Byrnes, Murphy, Kathleen Law, Hood, Gleason and Leland
Absent: Reps. David Law and Wenke
Excused: Reps. David Law and Wenke
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The following report, submitted by Rep. Drolet, Chair, of the Committee on Government Operations, was received and read:
Meeting held on: Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Present: Reps. Drolet, Hoogendyk, Gosselin, Garfield, Tobocman, Lipsey and Lemmons, III
Absent: Rep. Sheen
Excused: Rep. Sheen
Announcement by the Clerk of Printing and Enrollment
The Clerk announced that the following bills and joint resolution had been printed and placed upon the files of the members on Friday, February 4:
House Bill Nos. 4177 4178 4179 4180 4181 4182 4183 4184 4185 4186 4187 4188 4189 4190 4191 4192 4193 4194 4195 4196 4197 4198 4199 4200 4201 4202 4203 4204 4205 4206 4207 4208 4209 4210 4211
House Joint Resolution D
The Clerk announced that the following bills had been printed and placed upon the files of the members on Monday, February 7:
Senate Bill Nos. 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174
Communications from State Officers
The following communication from the Family Independence Agency were received and read:
January 31, 2005
Pursuant to Section 1002 of P.A. 344 of 2004, we are enclosing a copy of the following reports:
Type of ReportFacilityReport #License #
Special Sequoyah Center 2005C0207005 CS470201401
Investigation
This report was performed in compliance with the requirements of P.A. 116 of 1973 as amended, and the Administrative Rules for Child Caring Institutions. The report may also be viewed on our website, within 48 hours, under "News, Publications & Information" at the following address: http://www.michigan.gov/fia/.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to contact Miriam E.J. Bullock at 517-373-8383.
Sincerely,
Marianne Udow
Director
The communication was referred to the Clerk.
Introduction of Bills
Rep. Caswell introduced
House Bill No. 4212, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural resources and environmental protection act," by amending section 43516 (MCL 324.43516), as amended by 2004 PA 129.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Conservation, Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation.
Rep. Meyer introduced
House Bill No. 4213, entitled
A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled "Probate code of 1939," (MCL 701.1 to 712A.32) by adding section 17e to chapter XIIA.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Rep. Meyer introduced
House Bill No. 4214, entitled
A bill to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled "Mental health code," by amending sections 1001a, 1020, 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040, 1042, 1044, and 1050 (MCL 330.2001a, 330.2020, 330.2022, 330.2024, 330.2026, 330.2028, 330.2030, 330.2031, 330.2032, 330.2034, 330.2036, 330.2038, 330.2040, 330.2042, 330.2044, and 330.2050), section 1001a as amended by 1993 PA 252.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Rep. Meyer introduced
House Bill No. 4215, entitled
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled "The code of criminal procedure," by amending sections 20, 20a, 21, 21a, and 36 of chapter VIII (MCL 768.20, 768.20a, 768.21, 768.21a, and 768.36), section 20a as amended by 1983 PA 42, section 21a as amended by 1994 PA 56, and section 36 as amended by 2002 PA 245.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Reps. Wojno, Byrnes, Gleason, Hopgood, Farrah, Gonzales, Plakas, Leland and Accavitti introduced
House Bill No. 4216, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public health code," (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 21541.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
Rep. Rocca introduced
House Bill No. 4217, entitled
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan election law," by amending sections 482 and 488 (MCL 168.482 and 168.488), section 482 as amended and section 488 as added by 1998 PA 142.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
Reps. Spade, Polidori and Vagnozzi introduced
House Bill No. 4218, entitled
A bill to amend 1915 PA 31, entitled "Youth tobacco act," by amending sections 1, 2, and 4 (MCL 722.641, 722.642, and 722.644), sections 1 and 2 as amended by 1988 PA 314 and section 4 as amended by 1992 PA 272.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Reps. Vagnozzi, Spade, Sheltrown, Kehrl, Gleason, Plakas, Gonzales, Polidori, Leland, Donigan, Hopgood and Condino introduced
House Bill No. 4219, entitled
A bill to amend 1996 PA 195, entitled "Police officer's and fire fighter's survivor tuition act," by amending the title and sections 1, 2, and 3 (MCL 390.1241, 390.1242, and 390.1243).
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Higher Education and Career Preparation.
Reps. Vagnozzi, Plakas, Gonzales, Leland and Condino introduced
House Bill No. 4220, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled "Michigan liquor control code of 1998," (MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303) by adding section 521a.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.
Reps. Vagnozzi, Plakas, Gonzales and Condino introduced
House Bill No. 4221, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled "Michigan liquor control code of 1998," by amending section 521 (MCL 436.1521), as amended by 1998 PA 282.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.
Reps. Donigan, Accavitti, Gleason, Anderson, Vagnozzi, Kathleen Law, Condino, Bieda, Tobocman, Kolb, Miller and DeRoche introduced
House Bill No. 4222, entitled
A bill to create the sexual assault victims' forensic medical intervention and treatment fund; to provide for assessments against certain criminal defendants and certain juvenile offenders; to provide for expenditures from the fund; to provide for establishment of and funding for crisis programs for victims of criminal sexual conduct; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and agencies.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Reps. Kathleen Law, Plakas, Anderson, Hopgood, Zelenko, Accavitti, Alma Smith and Farrah introduced
House Bill No. 4223, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural resources and environmental protection act," by amending sections 3105, 3111, and 3115 (MCL 324.3105, 324.3111, and 324.3115), section 3115 as amended by 2004 PA 143.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.
Reps. Kathleen Law, Plakas, Anderson, Hopgood, Zelenko, Accavitti, Alma Smith and Farrah introduced
House Bill No. 4224, entitled
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled "The code of criminal procedure," by amending section 13c of chapter XVII (MCL 777.13c), as amended by 2004 PA 382.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.
Reps. Gaffney, Vagnozzi, Hunter, Accavitti, Plakas, Lemmons, Jr., Murphy, Cushingberry, Cheeks, Tobocman, McConico, Ward, Virgil Smith and Waters introduced
House Bill No. 4225, entitled
A bill to amend 1977 PA 89, entitled "State aid to public libraries act," by amending section 6 (MCL 397.556), as amended by 2001 PA 65.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.
Reps. Ward, Lipsey, Gleason, Caul, Ball, Moore, Elsenheimer, Proos, Bieda, Kahn, Gosselin, Baxter, Tobocman, Accavitti, Pearce, Schuitmaker, David Law, Huizenga, Vagnozzi, Drolet, Stahl, Gaffney, Sheen, Jones and Marleau introduced
House Bill No. 4226, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 472, entitled "An act to regulate political activity; to regulate lobbyists, lobbyist agents, and lobbying activities; to require registration of lobbyists and lobbyist agents; to require the filing of reports; to prescribe the powers and duties of the department of state; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending section 6a (MCL 4.416a), as added by 1994 PA 383.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
Rep. Ward introduced
House Bill No. 4227, entitled
A bill to amend 1966 PA 261, entitled "An act to provide for the apportionment of county boards of commissioners; to prescribe the size of the board; to provide for appeals; to prescribe the manner of election of the members of the county board of commissioners; to provide for compensation of members; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by amending section 15 (MCL 46.415), as amended by 1980 PA 187.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.
Rep. Ward introduced
House Bill No. 4228, entitled
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan election law," by amending sections 495, 500a, and 759 (MCL 168.495, 168.500a, and 168.759), sections 495 and 500a as amended by 1995 PA 87 and section 759 as amended by 1995 PA 261.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
Rep. Ward introduced
House Bill No. 4229, entitled
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled "The code of criminal procedure," by amending section 11d of chapter XVII (MCL 777.11d), as added by 2002 PA 31.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
Reps. Anderson, Williams, Murphy, Brown, Adamini, Kathleen Law, Hopgood, Bieda, Condino, Kolb, Whitmer, Meisner, Sak, Bennett, Hood and Cheeks introduced
House Bill No. 4230, entitled
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled "The insurance code of 1956," (MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding sections4003 and 4403.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Insurance.
Reps. Anderson, Williams, Murphy, Brown, Kathleen Law, Hopgood, Clack, Whitmer, Meisner and Cheeks introduced
House Bill No. 4231, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled "The revised school code," (MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1288a.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Reps. Anderson, Williams, Murphy, Brown, Adamini, Kathleen Law, Hopgood, Bieda, Condino, Kolb, Farrah, Meisner, Sak, Kehrl, Polidori, Hune, Hood and Cheeks introduced
House Bill No. 4232, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 331, entitled "Michigan consumer protection act," by amending section 3 (MCL 445.903), as amended by 2004 PA 462.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Rep. Hood introduced
House Bill No. 4233, entitled
A bill to amend 1995 PA 279, entitled "Horse racing law of 1995," by amending section 16 (MCL 431.316).
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Reps. Nitz, Casperson, Gosselin, Acciavatti, Gaffney, Vander Veen, Kathleen Law, Ball, Sheltrown, Caswell, Drolet, Baxter, Hune and Kahn introduced
House Bill No. 4234, entitled
A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled "The general property tax act," by amending section 44b (MCL 211.44b), as added by 1994 PA 297.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.
Reps. Nitz, Vander Veen, Kathleen Law, Mayes, Ball, Pearce and Kahn introduced
House Bill No. 4235, entitled
A bill to amend 1984 PA 44, entitled "Motor fuels quality act," by amending sections 2, 3, and 5 (MCL 290.642, 290.643, and 290.645), section 2 as amended by 1993 PA 236 and sections 3 and 5 as amended by 2002 PA 13.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Rep. Caswell introduced
House Bill No. 4236, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural resources and environmental protection act," by amending section 32610 (MCL 324.32610), as added by 2000 PA 277; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.
Reps. LaJoy and Drolet introduced
House Bill No. 4237, entitled
A bill to amend 1984 PA 431, entitled "The management and budget act," by amending section 283 (MCL 18.1283).
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Reps. Cheeks, Meisner, Gleason, Condino, Kathleen Law, Hunter, Lemmons, Jr., Byrnes, McConico, Williams, Anderson, Brown, Clack, Hopgood, Virgil Smith and Lemmons, III introduced
House Bill No. 4238, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled "The revised school code," by amending sections 1278 and 1525 (MCL 380.1278 and 380.1525), as amended by 2004 PA 596.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Reps. Cheeks, Byrnes, Gleason, Gaffney, Hunter, Kolb, Lipsey, Condino, Plakas, Williams, Anderson, Clack, Lemmons, Jr., Hopgood and Kathleen Law introduced
House Bill No. 4239, entitled
A bill to amend 1992 PA 147, entitled "Neighborhood enterprise zone act," by amending section 4 (MCL 207.774), as amended by 2004 PA 566.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Reps. Shaffer, Adamini, Emmons and Palsrok introduced
House Bill No. 4240, entitled
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "Michigan vehicle code," by amending section 205 (MCL 257.205), as amended by 1980 PA 398.
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Rep. Ward introduced
House Bill No. 4241, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural resources and environmental protection act," by amending sections 21102 and 21103 (MCL 324.21102 and 324.21103).
The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.
By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of
Motions and Resolutions
Rep. Ward moved that a special committee of four members be appointed to notify the Senate that the House was ready to meet the Senate in Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed.
The Speaker appointed as such committee Reps. Kooiman, Schuitmaker, Gonzales and Espinoza.
The special committee to notify the Senate that the House was ready to meet in Joint Convention returned to the House along with the members of the Senate.
The committee, though its Chairperson, reported that it had performed the duty assigned it. The report was accepted and the committee discharged.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the members of the Senate, who were admitted and conducted to seats.
Joint Convention
6:30 o'clock p.m.
The Joint Convention was called to order by the President of the Joint Convention, Lieutenant Governor Cherry.
Bishop Nathaniel Wells II, Pastor at Holy Trinity Institutional Church of God in Christ in Muskegon, offered the following invocation:
"Dear God--We thank You for allowing us to live in a nation where we can worship You according to the dictates of our consciences. We are so grateful to live in a land of freedom.
In a special way tonight, we thank You, for this exceptional woman whom You have allowed, through the people of Michigan, to emerge to the leadership of this great state.
We thank You for the visionary leadership in our governor that has attracted new businesses to the state of Michigan. We thank You, Lord, for a leader who has championed quality education at every level. We thank You for her leadership in the areas of health care and environmental responsibility.
You told us to pray for our leaders that we might be able to live peaceable lives. So, we thank You, also, for Lt. Gov. John Cherry, Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema, House Speaker Craig DeRoche, Senate Democratic Leader Bob Emerson, House Democratic Leader Dianne Byrum and for all of our state officials who look beyond partisan politics to work for the betterment of humanity.
Give them insight and understanding as they deal with the complex issues that will affect the lives of so many each day. Help them to hold to the spirit of cooperation that will allow them to find common ground as they work on our behalf.
We ask that You bless them and guide them as they undertake the activities necessary to continue the progress You have ordained for this state.
Now, dear God, as we embark upon a new year, I hear the words of Jesus when he said, 'Father, make them one.'
Allow our legislators to become one with our governor to make Michigan the flagship among the 50 states in the year 2005. We realize that if we work together, nothing can be withheld from us.
We thank You in advance for Your blessings. In Jesus name, Amen."
The roll of the Senate was called by the Secretary, who announced that a quorum of the Senate was present.
The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, who announced that a quorum of the House was present.
The President of the Joint Convention announced that the two Houses had met in Joint Convention to receive the message of the Governor.
Representative Ward moved that a special committee, consisting of two Representatives and two Senators, be appointed to invite and escort the State Officers to the Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed.
The President of the Joint Convention named as such committee Representatives Robertson and Bennett, and Senators Jelinek and Clark-Coleman.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the special committee appointed to invite the State Officers to be present at the Joint Convention.
The State Officers, escorted by the committee, were conducted to seats.
Senator Hammerstrom moved that a special committee, consisting of two Representatives and two Senators, be appointed to invite and escort the Judges of the Court of Appeals to the Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed.
The President of the Joint Convention named as such committee Representatives Steil and Byrnes, and Senators Allen and Schauer.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the special committee appointed to invite the Judges of the Court of Appeals to be present at the Joint Convention.
The Judges of the Court of Appeals, escorted by the committee, were conducted to seats.
Representative Ward moved that a special committee, consisting of two Representatives and two Senators, be appointed to invite and escort the Justices of the Supreme Court to the Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed.
The President of the Joint Convention named as such committee Representatives Stewart and Lipsey, and SenatorsPatterson and Switalski.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the special committee appointed to invite the Justices of the Supreme Court to be present at the Joint Convention.
The Justices of the Supreme Court, escorted by the committee, were conducted to seats.
Senator Hammerstrom moved that a special committee, consisting of four Representatives and four Senators, be appointed to invite and escort the Governor to the Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed.
The President of the Joint Convention named as such committee Representatives Palmer, Wenke, Angerer and McDowell, and Senators Stamas, Brown, Bernero and Thomas.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the special committee to wait on the Governor.
The Governor, escorted by the committee, was conducted to the rostrum.
The President of the Joint Convention then introduced Governor Granholm who gave her message to the Joint Convention as follows:
"Thank you.
Lieutenant Governor Cherry, Speaker DeRoche, Democratic Leader Byrum, Majority Leader Sikkema, Democratic Leader Emerson, members of the State Senate and House of Representatives, members of the judiciary, Secretary of State Land, Attorney General Cox, President Straus, members of the State Board of Education, my phenomenal Cabinet, my friend Frank Kelley, my best friend the First Gentleman Dan Mulhern, and citizens of this great state:
Good evening.
Will you all, in these chambers, join me in honoring a champion for children and families, a role model for many, who is stepping down from the bench this year, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver.
Thank you, Justice Weaver.
My fellow elected officials, may I ask you to remain on your feet. We are public servants in this hall. We enter mindful that we are not the people's only public servants and that we are far from their greatest. Instead, we are humbled by those who show us that there is no greater love than this: to lay down your life in service to your neighbor. We honor those who take this risk every day--our fire fighters, our police officers and, particularly this year, our men and women in the armed services. With a moment of silence, may we, who are here, and those listening at home, remember those who have shown this greatest love and remember their families with whom we grieve and for whom we pray...Thank you.
I am struck by the way that our feelings for our troops touch what is best in all of us. In our care and concern for our troops and in our love for our country, we are, indeed, One Michigan. And I believe that in much the same way, we share a single, over-riding hope: that every person in Michigan will have the opportunity to build a good life--and we know that the foundation of that good life is a good paying job.
So, tonight, I will share with you my plan to reach that goal--a plan to grow jobs today and jobs tomorrow.
This is a plan that will put people to work now making Michigan a better place to live and do business.
It's a plan that will make Michigan a world center of research and home to the high-wage industries and jobs which that research will generate.
And, it's a plan that will make sure the people of Michigan--both children in school and adults in the workforce--have the skills they need to take those jobs and build strong families and live great lives here in Michigan.
Before I share with you the details of my plan to address the challenge of our future, we must glance, just for a moment, at the roots of that challenge.
For most of the 20th century, we didn't just enjoy economic success in Michigan, we defined it. Our innovators and entrepreneurs created the world's most productive companies, and our unions made sure that productivity led to broad middle class prosperity. We built our great state on the solid foundation of hard work, good jobs, and big ideas.
It will take the same brand of bold thinking to meet the challenge of our times. And, what is that challenge? To solve, in the next few years, a problem more than thirty years in the making. Thirty years in which the economy--both national and global--has been undergoing a technology led transformation, while much of Michigan's economy has not.
The first four years of this new century made this contrast painfully clear. We lost more than 170,000 manufacturing jobs in our state, the largest share of the 2 million lost nationwide. While other states were ready to replace those jobs with high-skilled, high-wage jobs in emerging, technology-based industries--Michigan was not.
It may be tempting to look back and wring our hands over missed opportunities for change in the preceding decades. But, I'm not interested at looking in the rearview mirror except to learn. Our challenge, today, is to look forward, to find the courage to make the changes our own time demands.
So, I ask you tonight to help build Michigan's future with me. Because the choice we face is stark: will we let Michigan's economy languish, or will we work together to create the good jobs our state needs? Will we stand still, or will we move forward?
My focus on jobs is not new. Last year, at this podium, I described for you seven roads we had to follow to make Michigan an economic powerhouse in the 21st century.
I said that to achieve that goal, Michigan needs both a robust business climate and a spectacular quality of life, because the job-producing businesses we need in our state demand both.
To create that business climate and that quality of life, I said we would undertake 27 specific initiatives to grow our economy. As of tonight, we have checked off 24. I will continue to press the Legislature to finish that list. But, let me share just a thimbleful of what we have accomplished:
* I said we would make health care more affordable and accessible. And, we have. For example, the MiRx card we introduced in September is already helping 20,000 families get their prescription drugs for less.
* I said we would protect our environment. And, we have. As literally the biggest example, last month, we announced the largest conservation project of its kind in the country that guarantees public access forever--more than 271,000 acres of hunting, fishing and vacation land in our Upper Peninsula. And, we preserved the forestry jobs that go with it.
* I said we would find new ways to improve our schools. And, we have in many ways. Here's one: in cities across the state--in Benton Harbor, in Flint, in Detroit, in Grand Rapids--39 Family Resource Centers provide critical state family and health care services right inside struggling schools to help children learn by making families strong.
* I said we would protect our families. And, we have. Across the state, we've conducted massive fugitive felon sweeps that put nearly 950 violent repeat offenders back where they belong--behind bars.
* I said we would strengthen our cities to keep our young workforce in Michigan. And, we have. From Alpena to Saugatuck, and Kalamazoo to the Soo, 19 Cool Cities projects are revitalizing downtowns and neighborhoods.
* I said we would make Michigan a more nimble business partner. And, we have, slashing red tape and cutting the waiting time for permits, so that we are now the fastest permitting state in the nation.
* I said we would make our tax structure even more competitive. And, we have, by cutting taxes 32 times. In fact, we have by far the lowest business and income tax rates we have had in over three decades. And, it's about to get even more competitive.
I said we would make Michigan state government frugal and efficient, and, we have. In fact, Governing magazine has recognized Michigan as one of the best-managed states in the nation--only Utah and Virginia were ahead of us. Do you know what impressed them the most? That we have a clear plan, and we are working it with discipline.
And we're already seeing results:
* Job providers are saying yes to Michigan. Despite the national and international trends that have pushed Michigan's unemployment to unacceptable levels, our direct efforts have helped retain or attract more than 130,000 jobs last year.
* Global corporations from as far away as Germany are choosing Michigan to house their North American headquarters, while we're winning the head to head match-up to attract new corporate headquarters from as close as Ohio and Illinois.
* We have been listed as one of the nation's top five technology hot spots.
* We were designated as top in the nation by the Center for Digital Government as the most tech-friendly state government.
* And, this year, 2,400 small businesses opened their doors here in Michigan.
They are here for the same reasons we are. Because, Michigan, even with our challenges, is the greatest state in the country.
Today, in Michigan, we've developed a clear roadmap, and now we're ready to put the pedal to the metal.
Two weeks ago, I proposed the Michigan Jobs and Investment Act, the most sweeping change of Michigan's business tax structure in three decades. The change makes our state more competitive, because it keeps jobs today and attracts jobs for tomorrow.
When the act becomes law, three out of four business tax payers will pay significantly less. Over these last two weeks, this business tax cut has been welcomed by companies large and small. It's no wonder, because we have listened carefully to them to make sure this tax reform boosts their investment and their hiring.
Michigan businesses and workers need comprehensive reform that pulls jobs here rather than sending them elsewhere, so I urge you to make these changes. But, let me be clear: I will not accept tax legislation that is piecemeal or drives up the deficit. And, I'll say no to legislation that lobbyists load up with gifts and giveaways, special favors for the special interests.
Let's work together on this, and let's send a clear message to job producers: Michigan is rolling out the welcome mat for you, and you'll want to stay.
Two days from now, I'll introduce a new state budget, and it, too, will reflect our urgent focus on jobs.
Like the two budgets that came before it, my budget will protect the things that matter most to our citizens, while finding efficiencies and reducing costs. And, like others before it, we have made tough, tough choices to make ends meet.
In the past two years, we have eliminated $3 billion in budget deficits. I have cut more from state spending than any governor before me. I have worked hard to guard your pocketbook as if it were my own, by saving in ways both big and small. We have saved millions of dollars by limiting no-bid contracts. We've hauled furniture out of basement storage for re-use, and I'm still using John Engler's cardboard coasters...I just turn them over. We're even saving money this year by not printing this speech in fancy book form. And, wouldn't our moms be shocked and delighted? We have finally learned to turn out the lights when we leave the room.
We've cut back on travel, reduced cell phone usage, and God bless our state employees who've agreed to work forty hours a week for thirty-eight hours pay. I know you will join with me in honoring them for doing much more with less.
In the coming days, I will present to the Legislature executive orders that will further reduce spending by streamlining state government. We will force state departments and agencies to share services, and we will abolish 70 commissions and boards. I will call on school districts across our state to share services to free up funds for teaching our kids. And, I will ask the Legislature to give me the authority to consolidate districts that refuse to take these kinds of prudent steps to move money out of the bureaucracy and into the classroom.
It is no exaggeration to say that everything that survived in this budget had to answer the question: 'How important is this in our effort to promote the highest quality of life, to give our people opportunity, and to attract businesses and good paying jobs?'
Let me take a moment to talk about one item in my budget that passed that test--Medicaid.
Medicaid is the health plan that buys prescription drugs for Michigan grandparents. It provides check-ups for babies and new moms who can't afford insurance, and it pays for treatment for those with mental illness and for those with disabilities. Not just numbers in a budget--these are real people.
We have held the increase in per patient costs for Medicaid in Michigan to less than 2 percent. We're more frugal than the federal government and more frugal than private health plans...and, we'll continue to drive for those efficiencies. But, there are some here in Lansing and in Washington, who believe that the way to balance budgets is to deny basic health care to these, the most vulnerable members of our community. To them, I say, we will all be asked one day, 'when you saw me ill, what did you do?' and the answer will not be acceptable that we did not see, or worse, that we chose not to.
So, let there be no doubt: I will not cut off health care to the most vulnerable members of our Michigan family. And, I will fight back if Washington tries to rip health care from our most fragile citizens. We will not balance our budget on the backs of those least able to bear that burden. We are a family.
Our budget will keep our fiscal house in order and our priorities intact. And, our tax plan will remove big barriers to economic growth and jobs. But, we've got to do more to throw our state's economic engine into high gear.
Even though it's true that nearly 93 percent of our workforce in this, the greatest state in America, have jobs, it's also true that our unemployment rate remains unacceptably high. Now, we are a resilient people. We have come through periods of economic challenge before--like the gas crisis of the early seventies and the 15 percent unemployment of the early eighties. But, we are also a people who expect candor, and here is the stark reality: the challenge is different now than it was in past times of high unemployment. We will recover again, but not through the traditional solutions of another era. Our situation demands candor with each other about the need for change and the need for aggressive leadership to drive that change.
This Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow plan takes dead aim at the challenge we now face.
21st Century Jobs Initiative
It begins with an unprecedented investment in the future of Michigan--an investment to create 72,000 new jobs by making our state a world-wide center of research and innovation. This year, I will ask Michigan voters to support the 21st Century Jobs Initiative by amending the state Constitution to allow the state to invest $2 billion in bond money to create 21st century jobs--without raising taxes.
For years, leaders have said Michigan needs to get serious about diversifying its economy. My 21st Century Jobs Initiative will actually do it.
Mind you, we will not have to start from a dead-stop.
Michigan already leads the globe in advanced automotive design and manufacturing technology. We are already home to 85 percent of North America's automotive research.
We already provide one of the greatest public community college and university networks in the world. Our research universities are world-renowned.
And, our Technology Tri-Corridor is funding path-making research in the advanced manufacturing, homeland security and, especially, life sciences sectors.
This investment in Michigan's future will allow us to transform the state that put the nation on wheels into the state that makes those wheels run on pollution-free fuel cells or bio-diesel technology; the state where the research into alternative energies is done; the state where the clean technology is developed, and where the clean cars, products, and businesses are built.
And, Michigan, the Great Lakes State, could be the state that finally makes these United States independent of foreign oil.
* We will build the best laboratories and bring and grow the best scientists and researchers in Michigan.
* We'll create new sources of start-up funding to make sure the new businesses and entrepreneurs of tomorrow take root in Michigan today.
* We'll give our universities and research and development companies the ability to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funds.
* And, we'll turn those ground-breaking ideas into world-beating products, spinning off jobs from sales to construction, from engineering to transportation, workers wearing everything from blue collars to lab coats to white collars and suit coats.
I am asking the Michigan Legislature to put this 21st Century Jobs Initiative before the voters this fall.
Michigan's future cannot wait.
Jobs Today Initiative
But, people need jobs today, as well. They can't wait either. So, tonight, I am announcing a Jobs Today Initiative that will create 36,000 jobs in the next three years by fast-forwarding $800 million worth of state infrastructure improvement projects, creating new tools to spark city development, and giving school districts a new way to upgrade their buildings without raising taxes. Rather than waiting years to complete this work, this initiative will get these projects moving this construction season.
We will speed up the repair of roads and bridges.
We'll turn brownfield sites into useful development in our cities.
We'll invest to build affordable housing for families and seniors in Grand Rapids, Detroit and cities across our state.
We'll modernize schools for our kids and fix deteriorating campus buildings for our college students.
All of these projects are two-fers: they will put people to work and make Michigan a better place to live and do business.
In the weeks ahead, I will send this Jobs Today Initiative to the Legislature for approval.
Last year, I promised we would re-engineer our permit approval process for manufacturing facilities, and, we did. In October, we approved a General Motors plant in Flint in just 21 days...not 20 weeks or nearly 20 months like before...21 days. Why? Jobs were at stake. And, jobs are at stake now. I challenge you, in this Legislature, to move this initiative as if your job depends on it.
Also, when it comes to jobs today, I call on you to take action to increase the minimum wage. It is overdue. It has not been adjusted for eight years--back to a time when gas seemed expensive at $1.22 a gallon. It is only fair to our workers--many of whom are supporting families on $5.15 an hour, below poverty-line wages--to increase the minimum. I applaud those legislators championing this increase. They speak not only for Michigan workers but for the great majority of us who believe in the justice and decency of increasing the minimum wage.
Empowering Our Young People and Adults to Compete and Win Good Jobs
As we create the jobs of today and the jobs of the future, we must ensure that the people of Michigan--whether they are children in school or adults in the workforce--have the skills those jobs demand. That will require dramatic changes in our schools and the way we think about education.
For years, we have told our young people that a high school diploma is enough to get you a perfectly good job. In fact, that used to be our strength: people flocked to Michigan precisely because you could go right from the high school graduation line to a factory line and get a good job with good benefits.
Unfortunately, with globalization and competition, those days are over.
Today, all children in Michigan--not many, not most--but all our children must grow up knowing that their education will not end in high school.
Whether it is a four-year college degree, or a two-year associate degree, or other forms of technical training after high school, continued learning will be a requirement for all who seek a good-paying job in this new century.
Why do college degrees matter so much? One word: paycheck.
If you have any doubt, consider this: our newest auto factory--a partnership among Daimler Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai in Dundee--is not hiring a single soul who hasn't gone to college.
And those who graduate from college don't just get jobs, they earn more.
If Alex Trebek said to you, 'The answer is, "just under a million dollars,"' your question would be: 'What is the difference in lifetime earnings between a high school and a college grad?' That's right, almost a million dollars.
It's not just the individual--the state wins big too.
Those states with the highest number of adults with college degrees have the lowest unemployment rates, the highest personal income growth, and the fastest growing economies in this nation. More than any other factor, this one--a highly educated population--drives a state's economy.
Ten months ago, I asked Lt. Governor John Cherry to lead a Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth, because I wanted to double the number of college grads in Michigan. Double. When we reach that goal, we will be the most well-educated state in the country. Thanks to the hard work of the Cherry Commission, we now have a road map to reach that awesome goal.
So how do we get there?
The Commission made 19 recommendations, but the most important was this: we must expect all high school students in Michigan to earn a college degree or its equivalent by continuing their education for at least two years beyond high school.
And we will.
The New MERIT Scholarship
Tonight, I am announcing a new MERIT scholarship that will ensure that every child in Michigan will have the opportunity to attend at least two years of study beyond high school.
We are--in essence--extending the promise of public education in Michigan. Today, parents know that education is available to all from kindergarten through 12th grade. With this new MERIT scholarship, we are extending that promise into the college years.
Beginning with the class of 2007--today's high school sophomores--Michigan will ensure $4,000 for every student who completes two years of college--whether they earn an associate degree from a community college, achieve junior status at a four-year institution, or complete a technical program off-campus.
$4,000. For students who want to enter the workforce with an associate degree, the new MERIT scholarship means the state will essentially pick up the tab for tuition. And, those going on to four year degrees can use their new MERIT scholarship for their next year's tuition.
Either way, Michigan will be the first state in the nation to reward our students for completing two years of college, and we'll be the first to make it unmistakably clear--getting a college degree pays off.
The new MERIT scholarship may represent our first step toward college education for all in Michigan, but it will certainly not be our last.
In future years, I expect to raise the bar higher for students and provide greater financial support to those who clear it. But, one thing is clear today, the days when we define merit as success in high school are over. Michigan will now define merit the way the economy does--by rewarding those who earn college degrees.
Credit Amnesty
But, we can't stop with just our youth. Traveling this state, I have met hundreds who have been victims of downsizing, rightsizing, outsourcing, or some other flowery word for being laid off, and they, too, want to get a degree and get a better job to support their families. Many of them--in fact hundreds of thousands of people--already have a start on college. Many would gladly juggle work and family life to go back to school, but they are deterred by a massive bureaucratic barrier--their college credits have expired.
This year, we will ask Michigan's colleges and universities to create a credit amnesty--accepting the old credits of those adults who re-enroll within the next three years to finish their degrees. This amnesty will create a window to go back to school to finish up the degree they started years ago--to learn more and earn more, and, in many cases, to model the way for their children.
MI Opportunity Partnership
In addition to these efforts to increase college enrollment, we will overhaul our employment training programs to help unemployed workers move into fields most in need of employees.
Between now and 2012, it is expected that Michigan will see an increased demand for some 300,000 workers with the skills needed to fill jobs in the building trades and in nursing and health care fields. Even today, while thousands of our people are looking for work, nearly 90,000 vacancies already exist. We actually have hospitals in Michigan recruiting nurses from Canada, while residents in our state are looking for work. We are grateful for those who cross the Ambassador Bridge to do God's work in our hospitals. But, if Michigan's employers can run help-wanted ads in Montreal, surely we can figure out how to prepare our people on Mack Avenue or in Monroe or Munising for those opportunities.
To meet this challenge, we will deploy the MI Opportunity Partnership to conduct immediate, rapid-response training to quickly and comprehensively train and place out-of-work citizens to fill the openings that employers have today, particularly in health care.
We'll combine state and federal resources and tap the tremendous potential of our community colleges. In the year ahead, we expect to match up to 30,000 Michigan residents with jobs that are going waiting today. And, we will keep working to close this skills gap over the next five years.
One of the first places our MI Opportunity Partnership effort will focus is in Detroit where we are beginning a rapid-response training effort with Wayne County Community College and area health systems. Right now, Southeast Michigan is turning to Canada to fill 3,000 positions in the health care industry. Detroit Medical Center has 400 vacancies for nurses, medical technicians, and laboratory staff. Henry Ford has another 500. These are good jobs. Jobs that we can train qualified people for right here in Michigan. And, most importantly, because there's just no substitute for quality health care close to home--these jobs won't ever be outsourced.
I recognize that this State of the State address has been more narrowly focused than the ones usually delivered from this podium. While there is always a temptation for those of us in Lansing to use speeches like this to talk about every initiative and every change we're going to pursue in the coming year, I chose, tonight, to focus on the critical economic challenge before us. But, make no mistake--those critically important issues like health care and public safety and protecting our environment continue to have a key role to play in growing our economy...and this administration will continue the good work we've started on every one of them.
But, one non-economic subject deserves mention. I'll continue the fight I started as Attorney General to protect our children from the crass cultural currents that threaten to pull them into dark and unwelcome water.
The overwhelming majority of Michiganians worry that sex and violence in popular culture is tearing the nation's moral fabric. As a governor and as a mother, I'm one of them. This year, I will initiate proposals to shield our children from the coarse daily assault on their senses from popular media. We can start by passing Senator Hansen Clarke's bill to restrict the sale of mature, ultra-violent video games to children. But, we won't end there. Join with me, and we will send the message that, in Michigan, we are serious about protecting our children.
Tonight, I've offered a plan to create jobs today and jobs tomorrow; a plan that will make an unprecedented investment in diversifying Michigan's economic future; a plan that will put thousands of people to work now, making Michigan work better; a plan that trains our citizens for jobs now and jobs in the future; and, a plan that guarantees every child the opportunity to go to college.
The cynics will look at this plan and say we can't do it. I argue we must.
The naysayers will say we can't afford to do it. I say, with the changes in our global economy, we can't afford not to.
This will not be easy for any of us.
Our teachers--already working hard--will have to do even more to propel every child forward, through high school and beyond. Kids will have to study longer and harder.
Parents will have to encourage those kids more than ever and turn off the TV more often.
Workers, often juggling two jobs, will have to return to the classroom to learn new skills for new jobs. And, we'll all have to summon courage to accept change, to forego the familiar and forge a better future.
Perhaps none will have to change more than those of us who serve in government. We must throw off the ease and the habit of partisan division and have the courage to stand on common ground.
We cannot afford to be divided or to be timid, because, my friends, we are not alone in the bid for new century industry and jobs. Think like a business: we must compete or be left in the dust by other states and countries. We need only look to California where voters have already approved a $3 billion bond to promote biological research. I say we can compete with California just like the Pistons took it to the Lakers, but we have to come to work every day and bring some swagger.
So, my colleagues in the Legislature, get to know the person to your right and to your left. Come 2011, six years from today, neither of the people sitting with you, nor you, nor I, will be able to hold the seats we're in today. Our time is short. So, how will we have left this state? Will we have pretended that Michigan's place in the economy is unchanged and have hidden from the serious work I have proposed tonight? Or, will we courageously take on this incredible opportunity to transform Michigan into the state we know she is and hope she can be?
My fellow citizens, is it not true that we share this hope and vision--that every citizen should have the opportunity for a good life, starting with a good job? I have offered you a plan to achieve that hope, and to provide tens of thousands of jobs for people. I am on the side of hope, and I invite you to stand with me. I am on the side of compassion for our most vulnerable, and I invite you to stand with me. I am on the side of faith that our young people can meet higher expectations, and I invite you to stand with me. I am on the side of action, and I invite you to move with me.
At the last Cabinet meeting of 2004, General Thomas Cutler, who heads the Michigan National Guard, spoke eloquently of our men and women he had just visited in Iraq. He then presented me with this flag, at the request of a Michigan Guardsman, Captain Todd Fitzpatrick of the 185th Aviation Battalion. Captain Fitzpatrick had flown missions with this flag before him in the cockpit of his CH-47 helicopter. He wanted the Governor to have it as a symbol of thanks--for the love and support of all the people back home in Michigan.
So, I place this flag before you. It belongs to you--as a gift...and as a symbol. It reminds us that our troops remember us, and, so, we must continue to remember them and their families. This flag reminds us that the threads that unite us are strong, reaching across continents and oceans. Most of all, tonight, this flag reminds us that the courage we must show and the sacrifices we will make are modest, indeed, compared to the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who risk their lives for us and for America. Let us honor them, less with words than with our own deeds of courage, that they may come home to a Michigan further down its road of destiny: a Michigan stronger, prouder, and more vital than the Michigan they left.
God bless you all, and God bless Michigan."
The business of the Joint Convention having been completed, the Governor, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judges of the Court of Appeals and the State Officers withdrew.
Representative Ward moved that the Joint Convention adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 8:05 o'clock p.m.
The Lt. Governor and members of the Senate retired.
The Speaker announced that the House of Representatives and Senate had met in Joint Convention and had listened to the message of the Governor.
______
The Speaker called Associate Speaker Pro Tempore Caswell to the Chair.
Rep. Waters moved that the House adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 8:20 p.m.
Associate Speaker Pro Tempore Caswell declared the House adjourned until Wednesday, February 9, at 1:00 p.m.
GARY L. RANDALL
Clerk of the House of Representatives