LANSING – State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) 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.
"As our economy continues to struggle, Michigan is facing a very real and very serious crisis," LeBlanc said. "Governor Granholm proposed bold and innovative plans to turn our state around and get it headed in the right direction. I will work with the Governor and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build a stronger Michigan for our residents in Westland and all across the state."
During her State of the State address on Tuesday, 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.
"Our state will get left further and further behind if we can't offer companies the highly skilled workforce they'll need in this 21st century economy," LeBlanc said. "By investing in education, we will prepare our children for the good-paying jobs of the future and make Michigan a magnet for the industries that provide them. It's the right thing to do for Michigan's future, and the time to act is now."
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.