LANSING – State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) today praised Governor Jennifer M. Granholm for unveiling a bold plan to make Michigan a center for 21st century jobs by investing in cutting-edge industries such as alternative energies, ensuring workers hit by outsourcing get retrained in high-demand fields, and strengthening education.
"Our economy, our land, water and air and the future of our children are the top issues on the minds of Upper Peninsula residents," Lindberg said. "Gov. Granholm has outlined a plan that will make Michigan a leader in the global economy, keep our state clean and beautiful and help our students get the education they deserve. By working together in a bipartisan fashion, we can make these goals a reality."
During her State of the State address, Granholm proposed the "No Worker Left Behind" program, which will give workers whose jobs have been outsourced to other states and countries two years of free training or community college in high-demand fields. Granholm also proposed creating "Promise Zones" throughout the state, which will help more Michigan high school graduates afford the advanced education they'll need to be prepared for the jobs of the future. Last month, House Democrats kicked off the new legislative session by announcing their top priorities, which include strengthening education to build a highly trained 21st century workforce.
"As someone who spent 30 years as an educator, I've seen sad cases where hard-working students were denied an opportunity to better themselves because they couldn't afford higher education," Lindberg said. "That's tragic. Our children deserve the opportunity to compete for the good-paying jobs of the future."
Lindberg -- a long-time proponent of alternative energy -- added, "Investing in 21st century industries will make Michigan a magnet for 21st century jobs. Our farmlands are ideal for producing the corn and soybeans needed to make renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. We should use that blessing to our benefit."
House Democrats' top priorities also include lowering the cost of health care, increasing consumer protections, beefing up ethics standards in the House, and stopping Canadian and out-of-state trash.