MUSKEGON--Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants the people of Michigan to back her "jobs today, jobs tomorrow" agenda, even as it faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled state Legislature.
On Wednesday, she's pitching her plan to the people of Muskegon.
The public is invited to participate in a "town hall meeting" with the governor and several key state Senate Democrats at 5:30 p.m. in Room 1100 of the Stevenson Center at Muskegon Community College.
The meeting, one of 17 similar forums scheduled for sites around the state, is free to the public.
Room 1100 is an auditorium that comfortably seats many people, so residents should not hesitate to attend, said Patrick Schuh, deputy director of constituent services for the Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus.
Granholm will be joined by several Democratic figures, including state Sen. Mark Schauer, the Senate's minority floor leader, and state Rep. Doug Bennett of Muskegon.
Representatives from business, labor and local government also will participate, Schuh said.
The forum will include opening remarks by the governor, a panel discussion involving Granholm and several other officials, then questions from the audience, according to Schuh. It's expected to last about 90 minutes.
Granholm will use the forum to promote her job-creation agenda, particularly her plan to reform the Michigan Single Business Tax and to sell $2 billion worth of bonds so the state can invest in research and development of high-tech businesses.
Under the governor's proposal, the Single Business Tax would be cut from 1.9 to 1.2 percent. It also would offer tax credits for research and development, make profits a bigger factor in determining a company's tax base and eliminate some tax breaks within the Single Business Tax, according to published reports.
Many Republicans and leaders of the business community oppose the revenue-neutral plan, claiming it will benefit only manufacturers but stick many other businesses with tax increases.
Granholm's supporters say a clear majority of companies would get tax breaks.
The proposed $2 billion bond issue would raise money to develop a high-tech sector in the state economy that would ideally create thousands of jobs. Some Republicans have expressed general support for some type of bond issue, while others have said it would be too costly.
The bond issue would require an amendment to the state constitution. That would need the approval of two-thirds of the State House and Senate, which are both controlled by Republicans.