G4G talking points for 10-5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 (33 Days until Victory 2006)

Governor Granholm attended the opening of a new hybrid car development center, a joint venture between GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW.


The Governor helped pave the way for this project by creating a tax credit in July to encourage the companies to move forward.


By promoting investments in alternative energy and advanced fuels, as well as life sciences and advanced manufacturing, Governor Granholm’s comprehensive jobs plan is pushing Michigan to be a leader in the cutting-edge industries of the future.


The Dick DeVos / Alterra connection is growing stronger with more scrutiny, and DeVos is claiming that he did not exercise the option to control the Alterra board, despite evidence that his investment allowed he and his family to do so.


If he knew about the abuses, why did he fail to act? And if he is an attentive business leader, as he would like us to believe, how could he not have known about incidents that were happening around the country, particularly when reports appeared in national publications and his close advisor Jerry Tubergen was Alterra chairman? Something does not add up.

Headlines from Around the State

The Detroit News: Financial disclosure law absent in Mich. DeVos didn't have to report on holdings; bill would require revealing sources of income.
Republican candidate for governor Dick DeVos is being slammed by Democrats for not making a complete disclosure of his considerable finances -- including an investment in a chain of problem-racked assisted living homes. But the fact is, DeVos isn't required to report anything. Michigan is one of only three states -- along with Vermont and Idaho -- with no financial disclosure law. The 47 other states and the federal government require legislators and members of Congress to report personal financial information so voters can judge whether public officials are using their offices for personal gain. The vast majority of states also requires governors to report, and many set the same standards for gubernatorial candidates, according to the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group Center for Public Integrity… In March, DeVos released an eight-page disclosure statement that listed current investments and sources of income as well as charitable contributions dating back eight years. His document included no dollar figures, meaning it would not comply with requirements in most states, said John Chamberlin, chairman of Common Cause-Michigan, a nonpartisan political ethics watchdog. "His disclosure is better than nothing. But it falls short of what states with disclosure laws would require," Chamberlin said. Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state Democratic Party say DeVos should have made public that he and a small investor group, including family members, invested at least $173 million in Alterra Healthcare Corp., a chain of senior care centers fined in other states for sexual and physical abuse of elderly patients and other violations.
Click here to read the full article... http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/POLITICS01/610050384/1022/POLITICS

The Detroit News: Ali is in Granholm's corner Boxing icon who rarely endorses candidates backs governor because of stem cell research.
Muhammad Ali endorsed Granholm for re-election as governor Wednesday, applauding her support of stem cell research… Lonnie Ali called Granholm during the event in a union hall to offer support. Her comments were heard by the crowd of about 150. "We believe in the governor and the agenda that she has for the state," Lonnie Ali said. Her husband, a boxing icon, rarely makes political endorsements but this was an important issue, she said… In the 1980s, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease -- one of the conditions that scientists hope to cure through stem cell research. Granholm has advocated lifting a ban limiting the use of stem cells and wants to expand that research in Michigan… "She wants talented research and businesses around the world, who are working on cures for devastating and gut wrenching diseases right now, to relocate here to our great state, but she's been hindered in her effort to attract them because our laws are too restrictive," the Alis said in a joint written statement.
Click here to read the full article... http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/POLITICS01/610050343/1022

The Saginaw News: Style, substance not exclusive
Republicans predictably criticized Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm for putting style over substance Monday, but Republican challenger Dick DeVos' first debate performance lacked both style and substance -- meaning the Grand Rapids multimillionaire missed an opportunity to close the sale with undecided voters. Admittedly, both candidates were often vague and, in Granholm's case, sometimes long-winded. She dominated the debate with a strategy that put DeVos -- and the Bush administration -- on the defensive. DeVos at times looked lost, mumbling that he was disappointed in the governor's attacks on his business investments and history. His primary knock against Granholm is that she isn't creating an atmosphere for economic growth in Michigan. He says he would… Otherwise, Granholm scored points by offering more specifics about her economic recovery plan, twice referring voters to her campaign Web site early in the debate. She was also more specific about her plan to replace the state's Single Business Tax, which the Legislature slated for repeal at the end of 2007… The soap salesman needs to offer more suds if he intends to persuade Michigan to change leadership. He gets another chance in Grand Rapids, his home turf, during the second debate on Tuesday.
Click here to read the full article...http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1159968051239440.xml&coll=9