December 3, 2008
In the wake of speculation that she would be leaving her job to take a position in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama, Gov. Jennifer Granholm told reporters Tuesday that she hasn't "been asked to join the Obama team" and is "not aware of being vetted in any way."
Granholm, attending the National Governors Association meeting in Philadelphia, met privately with Obama briefly Tuesday to push support for federal loans to the Detroit automakers.
By Chris Christoff
Mich. gov. expects 'significant' stimulus package (click title to entry)
12/2/2008, 5:03 p.m. EST
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday after meeting with President-elect Barack Obama that she expects states will see a "significant" stimulus package once Obama is sworn into office.
But Granholm still expects to propose budget cuts this month through an executive order that must pass muster with the House and Senate Appropriations committees. She's just hoping they can be smaller if more federal aid comes through.
"It may lessen the need right now to do immediate, drastic cuts," she said. "With this stimulus coming up, it would be foolish to put up drastic cuts when we know that relief is on the way."...
...So far, "the revenues to the state have been coming in surprisingly on target," Granholm said. "The revenues are still steady."...
Public Works Spending - It sounds like a plan. The nation still needs to deal with long term employment, however, jobs in manufacturing and transportation issues such as high speed magnetic rail. They are huge commitments, but, worth making in the long run. The more sustainable a tax base the USA can attain, the more secure the future of the country.
Stimulus plans laudable but not a quick budget fix (click here)
By JUDY LIN, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
(12-02) 18:08 PST Sacramento, CA (AP) --
One of the critical elements of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to close California's growing budget deficit involves jump-starting the economy with billions of dollars in public works spending.
On Tuesday, Schwarzenegger sought outside help, making a pitch directly to President-elect Barack Obama, who told the nation's governors he wants to put people to work building roads, schools and bridges.
Schwarzenegger said that while California approved $42 billion in infrastructure bonds two years ago, the state could use more help. The governor's office estimated the state has $28 billion-worth of projects the incoming Obama administration could fund within its first 120 days.
Across the nation, the National Governors Association estimated there are more than $136 billion in infrastructure projects ready to break ground....
