Summary of the State of the State Address

In her speech Jan. 29, Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) tweaked the battle lines in Lansing, where clashes with the Legislature last year led to a brief shutdown of state government and to sweeping changes to the state’s tax structure, including a hike in the income tax.

“If there’s one thing we showed the people of Michigan in the last year, it’s that we know how to fight. Now we need to show them that we can fight for them. Together,” she told members of the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate.

Michigan’s economy is reeling because of layoffs in the manufacturing sector, particularly automakers and their suppliers, so Granholm encouraged lawmakers to support alternative energy as a source for new jobs.

Granholm also proposed giving tax credits to companies that created more jobs in Michigan and investing state pension dollars in local start-ups.

On education, she called for raising the school dropout age to 18, increasing funding for pre-kindergarten and encouraging high schools to work with universities and major hospitals.

She also said she would find enough money to hire 100 more state troopers and tear down 1,500 dilapidated houses where criminals lurk.