Governor acts to retain Mich. jobs

[Hamilton Reef]

Governor acts to retain Mich. jobs

To help keep jobs in Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm will sign a pair of executive directives today to prohibit the state from contracting with businesses that would do the work in foreign countries.
In addition, companies now doing business with the state would be required to say who is doing the contracted work and where it is being done.
It was not clear when the directives would take effect.

http://www.freep.com/news/mich/gran22_20040322.htm

[Hamilton Reef]

In California the outsourcing promoted by the Bush as "good" put millions of workers on the unemployment and welfare lines. When they called to get food stamps they found that the calls for the state food stamp program was outsourced to India to add gross insult and embarrassment to injury. California has a million plus high trained unemployed operators that could operate the food stamp programs right in their own state. The states should use their own employees to serve their own residents and not screw their own residents multiple times by outsourcing the state jobs just beacause GW Bush says screwing Americans is "good".

[Neal]

To help keep jobs in Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm will sign a pair of executive directives today to prohibit the state from contracting with businesses that would do the work in foreign countries.

I wonder how many people will be laid off because of the loss of work from this directive? She's going to cut contracts with Michigan companies, that outsource work? GM, Ford, DC?

Yeah that will keep companies here:rolleyes:

Neal

[Hamilton Reef]

"Companies now doing business with the state would be required to say who is doing the contracted work and where it is being done."

There is nothing wrong with having the companies admit and record where their outsourcing jobs are going. The auto companies can still stay in Michigan. The public just has the right to know what hypocrites, antiAmerican, and sob the companies really are. If the companies are so dang proud of themselves about their outsourcing, they'll be happy to brag about how they screwed the Michigan job force. Governor Grandholm is only asking them to be honest about what they are doing. That's more than Engler ever did.

[JasonG]

California is a perfect example of why programs like this do not work. Their unemployment is because of an unjust tax system that made it impossible and unprofitable to do bussiness in CA. All their jobs went to Nevada and the south. Instead of narrowing down the potential bussiness to come the MI. The state needs to make MI as attractive to business as possible. Why should someone move or start a major bussiness in MI as opposed to somewhere else? What do we offer that no else offers? These are the questons we need to be asking ourselves.

[Neal]

It's none of the Govenors damn business how or where I do business, If the consumer want to know they can ask.

This is just another anti-business move by Jenny, that will cost more jobs........But that's OK she knows simple people will blame GW for it.

Blaming GW for California.....someone's in denial.

Neal

[lostmale]

Maybe all State contracts should be made with only companies here in the State or at least to companies in US. For example instant lottery tickets. There are no companies in the US or MI that can do production, warehousing and distribution of lottery tickets we have to contract with Canadian company. To me that means the State is outsourcing.

""Pollard Banknote Receives Instant Ticket Contract Extension, Wins Pull-Tab Production, Warehousing and Distribution Contract in Michigan

WINNIPEG, Canada (October 17, 2003) – Pollard Banknote is pleased to announce it has received a two-year contract extension to continue producing instant tickets for the Michigan Lottery. The company has also been awarded a contract for the production, warehousing and distribution of the Lottery’s new line of pull-tab tickets. The launch date is October 27th.

The original instant ticket contract was signed in 2001, and options remain for three additional years. Pollard Banknote also supplies instant ticket vending machines to the Lottery under separate contract.

"Over several years of service we have formed a true partnership with the Michigan Lottery," explained Gordon Pollard, Co CEO of Pollard Banknote. "The addition of pull tab production allows us the opportunity to work with the Lottery on all aspects of its instant product line, scratch-offs, pull-tabs and ITVMs."

"The Michigan Lottery is very excited about our new pull tab product line," added Gary Peters, Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery. "We are confident in the abilities of Pollard Banknote to help make this new brand a success."

Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is one of the world’s leading full service lottery suppliers. The company currently provides tickets and related services to more than 45 lotteries worldwide, including some of the largest and most respected lotteries in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Central and South America.

[Swamp Monster]

Lostmale thats pretty interesting. I guess she talks out of both sides of her mouth just like Kerry. Must be a democrat thing I guess.

I think JasonG is right...this state needs to seriously evaluate why we can't attract business, specifically manufacturing. We have arguably one the most skilled workforces in the country, why don't companies want to benefit from that? That skilled labor is a double edge sword ofcourse because our labor rate is far higher than many other states. Thats why Nissan and Toyota's two newest plants went to Missouri and Texas I guess.
Lots of questions I guess....just don't see anyone in power asking them.


Oh, one more thing, if none of this contract work can be outsourced, I would expect higher priced contracts....and higher taxes to cover these costs.
Imo, it's more talk than action.

[snakebit67]

First of all let me say amen neal.

Now let me say I think the outsourcing of jobs sucks, I could have used a bigger word but it still means the same thing.

What I really find ironic is the people who claim our president is isolating us from the rest of the world seem to be the same people who are complaining about the way economic globalization works.

[Hamilton Reef]

Granholm: State jobs come first
Orders are part of plan to stop Michigan losses

"All other things being equal," she said, "if you have two bids and one is a Michigan-based company, the contract should go to the Michigan company."
Michigan companies in many cases also would have an edge over companies from other states seeking state contracts.

http://www.freep.com/news/mich/gran23_20040323.htm

[Swamp Monster]

So it's only a part time initiative right? Or atleast this quote from the article makes me think it is.....

He said the state would not penalize manufactured goods that came from countries that have trade treaties with the United States, such as Canada and Mexico.

So Michigan will still outsource contracts with companies from Mexico and Canada huh? And other countries with trade treaties?
I think Ms. Granholm is using smoke and mirrors........

[Fishfoote]

It's no more complicated than: Lower Costs = Greater Profits. Why would a manufacturer burden the shareholders (owners) with the high cost of operating in the U.S. if they can cross the boarder and avoid the volumes of regulations regarding operations, employees, etc. From my perspective, and again this is just me, the U.S. did this - not Mexico or any other third world country. When you can't fire someone for poor performance, substance abuse, and the like, it's time to move on. When you've got to have a lawyer on staff just to decipher discrimination, HIPAA, PHI and the like, it's time to move on. People go into business - take the real risk, to make a profit. They don't go into business to employ others except for a few family businesses. Somehow, a belief that the company owes something to the employee beyond compensation for work performed has developed. The only way to not be at the mercy of someone else for your earnings is to go into business for yourself.

[JasonG]

Good post Fishfoote

I grew up in Texas which does not have a strong union influence. I understand the stated purpose of unions, but not really the culture of unions. I am not downing unions just I did not grow up around them. But sometimes I wonder if in some instances they have not bargained themselves out of jobs. Maybe I am wrong just an opinion from an outside observer. Of course if I was in a union I would enjoy all the benefits, but stepping back and looking at the big picture there has to be a threshod between proper wages and benefits and the cost of production. Just a simple observation, if I am wrong correct me.

[ultradennis]

This is the first time in jumping in a political discussion so please be gentle. ;)

From my perspective of being an IT person and seeing jobs all around me being sent to India and other places abroad it is a scary feeling. You never know when that tap on the shoulder can happen to you or worse yet be approached to train the people who are taking your job. ( I have actually seen this happen).
My opinion is if the work has anything to do with the government either at the state level or federal level the outsourcing needs to be evaluated on the basis of information. There needs to be full disclosure who & where the work is being done. I don't want someone over in India to know my personal information because they just don't have the privacy rules in place and identity theft is ever present. (I know it can happen locally here too.)
If it is just general number crunching fine but when there is sensitive data.. no way. Keep it within our shores.

Now private businesses are a different story. They can outsource all they want. I just hope companies realize the devistation this causes with ordinary american citizens who do buy their products. (who may not be able to when they can't find a job of equal value and can't afford the products).

-Dennis