LANSING - State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) today criticized House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) for failing to act on a $1 billion plan to create high-paying jobs in Michigan.
"The top concern to all of us in Michigan is the economy," Donigan said. "We need jobs and we need them as soon as possible. We don't need to send any more work overseas. This plan will give working families new opportunities and make them better able to compete for the high-tech jobs of the future. The time has come for Mr. DeRoche to get his caucus on board with economic revival."
The $1 billion will diversify Michigan's economy by creating jobs and supporting innovation and research in the fields of homeland security, high-tech automotive, alternative energy and life sciences. It also will provide venture capital for start-up companies in Michigan.
The proposal was rooted in Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's job-stimulus plan. In her 2005 State of the State address, Granholm unveiled a proposal to move Michigan toward robust economic recovery by creating 21st Century Jobs in research and innovation, focusing on competitive edge technologies, life sciences and commercialization.
"This plan will help small businesses by increasing their access to growth capital and will diversify our economy by investing in the technologies of the future," Donigan added.
In urging an immediate vote on the plan, Donigan cited recent Detroit News articles that revealed DeRoche had slipped a provision into the jobs plan just before it came to a vote that would have invested $60 million in WiMax, a wireless technology. That money would have benefited Bob Liggett Jr., who has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates over the past seven years, according to the article. The provision would have allowed the funding to avoid a peer review panel.
"De Roche is playing politics as usual with his attempt to pad a bill meant to help our troubled economy with corporate pork," Donigan said. "While corporate special interests reap the benefits, people in our community continue to struggle. We can't tolerate the GOP's inaction any longer."