The truth squad knocks out yet another Amway Dick lie ad

Granholm For Governor: Truth Squad: 10 Months The Amway Dick claim:"When Governor Granholm took office, 10 months went by before she got her top job recruiter - on the job." The truth:· Governor Jennifer Granholm has been fighting for jobs since day one. She named Dave Hollister as the state's "jobs czar" who worked day in and day out to bring Michigan jobs. (Lansing State Journal, December 20, 2002) · Republican leadership praised the Governor's appointment. "This is an excellent and superb appointment," said Senate Majority Leader and committee Chairman Ken Sikkema , R-Wyoming, after hearing testimony from Hollister and others who endorsed him. (Lansing State Journal January 15, 2003) · Republicans complain about the Chief Executive of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation not being named until later. It was the Executive Committee of the MEDC, not the Governor who selected the CEO of the MEDC. The Governor did not have the legal authority to appoint the MEDC CEO, the MEDC Executive Committee did. MEDC Executive Committee members appointed by former Governor John Engler controlled the MEDC Executive Committee. (MEDC Interlocal Agreement §8.04, MEDC Bylaws §6.02) · In 2003, early in Governor Granholm's first term, appointees of former Governor Engler, not Governor Granholm, controlled the MEDC Executive Committee. Amendments expanded the membership of the MEDC Executive Committee by 3 seats from 17 members to 20 members became effective on April 11, 2003, Governor Granholm acted quickly and made appointments to fill those 3 positions within 5 days. · Governor Jennifer Granholm inherited a government in crisis. She eliminated nearly $4 billion in left-behind deficits by making tough choices and cutting waste, fraud and abuse. (Dowagiac News editorial, April 17, 2006) · Michigan lost 240,000 total jobs during the final two and a half years of under Republican Governor John Engler. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) · Michigan lost more than 63,000 jobs due to NAFTA, a policy supported by Dick DeVos. (Christian Science Monitor, September 20, 1993; Economic Policy Institute, "NAFTA's Cautionary Tale," July 20, 2005) · Michigan's economic problems are a result of: 1) Slow national economic growth under Bush; and, 2) More importantly, the slump in the U.S. auto industry and the fact that Michigan is far more dependent upon the auto industry than any other state, according to a recent report by the respected Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo. (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, "Michigan's Economic Competitiveness and Public Policy," August 11, 2006) The Amway Dick claim: "During those 10 months, 75 large Michigan employers announced layoffs," The Truth:· Dick DeVos eliminated 1,400 Michigan jobs: "The Company restructured and pared down. DeVos eliminated 1,400 white collar positions in Michigan through attrition, early retirements and what DeVos called "involuntary separations." (The Grand Rapids Press, September 17, 2006) · DeVos said he cut Michigan job and invested $200 million in China. - Tim Skubick: "What's true about it? You did create jobs in China and you laid off people in Michigan." - Dick DeVos: "Two unrelated events. Both are true." (WILX-TV, September 6, 2006) The Amway Dick Claim: "300 businesses went bankrupt, 32,000 personal bankruptcies," The Truth:· There's no question the state's economy has been suffering, but it stems from the unfair foreign trade and outsourcing policies supported by President Bush and lobbied for by Dick DeVos. · Dick DeVos financially supported organizations that advocate outsourcing. The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation has giving thousands of dollars to the Mackinac Center, the Acton Institute, The Heritage Foundation and The Hudson Institute. (Source: Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation: IRS 990 Forms, 1999-2004) · Offical records through the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives showed the Amway Corporation, while Dick DeVos was President, lobbied for U.S. trade with China, including Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. (Amway Lobbying Report, February 14, 2001) · Dick DeVos advocated for a Michigan company to move out of state to Tennessee. DeVos said the company's decsision to build a plant down south "shouldn't be considered a bad thing." (Monroe Evening News, July 19, 2006) The Amway Dick Claim:"and 42,000 workers lost their jobs. 10 months, while she waited to act." The truth:· Governor Granholm is working everyday to put Michigan first through her "Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow" economic plan. · "The Governor's plan is connecting workers to available jobs through the MI Opportunity Partnership. By partnering with businesses and community colleges, the program has already helped more than 100,000 people get jobs." (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, http://www.michigan.gov/miop) · Despite the fiscal mess she inherited and the indifference of the administration in Washington, Governor Jennifer Granholm's plan is begining to pay dividends. - Internet giant Google's recent announcement they were opening a headquarters for their new AdWords division in Ann Arbor, creating 1,000 new jobs (Detroit Free Press, July 10, 2006) - Kellogg moving their U.S. Snacks division from Illinois to Michigan, creating an additional 650 jobs in Battle Creek and Wyoming (Battle Creek Enquirer, May 19 2004) - Whirlpool's announcement they are consolidating their administrative operation in Michigan, creating more than 400 jobs in Benton Harbor (News Release, Whirlpool Corporation, May 10, 2006) - United Solar Ovonic, an alternative energy company, building manufacturing plants in Greenville (The Greenville Daily News, September 9, 2006) - Advanced Photonix, a California-based technology company, moving their offices to Ann Arbor (Detroit Free Press, March 7, 2006) - Hemlock Semiconductor's expansion in Saginaw (WJRT-TV, November 16, 2005) - American Axle choosing Detroit over Mexico (The Lapeer County Press, September 8, 2006) - In the last nine months, nine ethanol and biodiesel plants have opened, broken ground or been announced. (Press Release, Office of the Governor, September 14, 2006) The Amway Dick claim:"Governor Granholm – No leadership, no results." The Truth:· Governor Granholm is working everyday to put Michigan first through her "Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow" economic plan. The Governor's plan is the right plan for Michigan. · "Researchers at local companies, nonprofits and the University of Michigan will receive roughly half of the total $101 million awarded statewide - an affirmation of this area's technology prowess and its crucial role in Michigan's economic future. State officials hope the funding will generate more than 2,000 jobs locally. Jobs, of course, are the goal. Gov. Jennifer Granholm formed the fund in part based on recommendations from the Cherry Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth, a group led by Lt. Gov. John Cherry…" (Ann Arbor News editorial, September 10, 2006) · "Nearly one-fifth of the $100 million in state grants and loans doled out Wednesday to high-tech operations will go to Lansing area businesses and researchers… "It's a terrific opportunity for Lansing to capitalize on," said Tim Daman, vice president for economic development at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Among the local awards was $2 million given to foam maker KTM Industries Inc. The funds will help the company add new equipment to make biodegradable foam products and create 66 jobs. "We're thrilled," said Tim Colonnese, KTM's president and chief executive officer." (Lansing State Journal, September 17, 2006) · "Michigan's leadership is doing the right things to help the state's economy during this period of dramatic restructuring. Last year, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed 21st Century Jobs Fund was enacted and will invest billions in the research, development and commercialization of new technologies and industries." (Brookings Institution, January 23, 2006) · "Governor Granholm's Jobs Today program will promote economic development and give Michigan construction workers what they need most...more jobs." (CEO Pat Devlin, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council) · "Granholm OKs bills for $420M in construction over two years to help create 7,100 short-term jobs. Mike Nystrom, vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, said the estimate of 7,100 jobs created is a realistic one. "This program will create good-paying, middle-class jobs in Michigan," he said. "Without this, some of our contractors would be looking to do work in other states." (Detroit News, May 23, 2006) · "Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Jobs Today Local Match Program is an unprecedented state-local partnership that would create jobs and fix roads - two things Michigan needs desperately. Through grants and bonds, the program will help local road agencies complete projects today that have already been approved by Congress, but are not scheduled for construction until several years from now." (Letter to the editor, Lansing State Journal, March 26, 2006) The funny part about this latest lie ad coming from the Amway Dick is that he talk about leadership and results, this coming from a guy who ducks and dodges questions regarding his personal beliefs, who lies about his stock in nursing homes that abuse their residents and has to lie in ads to make his case instead on standing by what he did. As for results this guy been trying to lay the state job lost on Granholm lap for seven months what he doesn't tell you that he and the other corporate types here in Michigan back people like John Engler and George W. Bush whose combine policies has lead the state being bled.