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Corzine Makes Education Top Priority

New Jersey – Gov. Jon S. Corzine told state school representatives that education must be the state’s priority, even when budgets are squeezed and the economy is weak. The governor addressed the New Jersey School Boards Association at the Crossroads South Middle School in South Brunswick
and earned applause for the increased funding in school aid. “We are making an investment, in my view, not just this year, we have for a very long time in the most important part of defining the future of New Jersey, and that is education,’’ Gov. Corzine said.
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CAMPAIGN NEWS

MO – Nixon: We Need to Turn This Economy Around. Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon stopped in downtown Branson as part of his Missouri Main Street Tour. Nixon will continue to visit Main Streets in small towns throughout the state. “Growing up in a small town, I saw how important small businesses and a vibrant Main Street were to our local economy,” Nixon said. “But today, we’re moving in the wrong direction, and Main Streets across our state are hurting. Our economy is heading backwards, jobs are disappearing and everyone’s feeling the squeeze. We need to turn this economy around, and it starts by supporting small businesses on Main Street across Missouri.”
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WA – Gregoire Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign. Gov. Chris Gregoire officially kicks off her re-election campaign with a four-day, 10-city tour around the state. Gregoire’s kickoff tour will highlight issues on health care, education, job training, the environment, public safety and the business climate.
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GENERAL NEWS

CO – Editorial: Ritter Helping to Create Stronger Economy. Gov. Bill Ritter has established a Colorado Jobs Cabinet, intended to mesh the state’s business community with higher education officials to help produce graduates who are ready to enter the Colorado work force. It’s well that the state’s higher education institutions are heeding the call from business to educate graduates who can meet the needs of this state’s private sector. That makes for a stronger economy.
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IA – Culver Welcomes New Jobs. First Administrators Inc. announced plans to add as many as 46 full-time jobs at its Sioux City operation. The company is to invest $2.2 million to renovate the company’s facility, purchase equipment and train the new workers. “As a hub for many insurance and financial industry giants, we are thrilled whenever a company like Wellmark and its subsidiary First Administrators choose to expand their operation and bring new jobs to Iowa,” Gov. Chet Culver said.
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KS – Sebelius Forms Education Council. To improve student achievement by creating a collaborative, seamless education system, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has formed the Governor’s P-20 Education Council. “We know that success in college actually begins before children enter kindergarten. This council will help create a comprehensive system of education with benchmarks for success from pre-school through graduate school,” Sebelius said. “I’m encouraged with the caliber of those who are investing their time and talent to better the success of Kansas kids. Their efforts now will translate into better prepared Kansans and stronger communities throughout our state.”
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MD – O’Malley Legislation to Protect Homeownership. Gov. Martin O’Malley signed emergency legislation that would help thousands of Maryland homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes and to prevent future generations of homeowners from losing their homes due to foreclosure. O’Malley also called on and met with mortgage loan servicers in emergency work-sessions to work toward a public agreement to set a standard for consistent, timely and sustainable loss mitigation services for Maryland homeowners. “More than any other federal or state efforts around the country, Governor O’Malley’s legislative package is the result of meaningful consensus among each of the responsible interest groups and will have an immediate effect of preserving homeownership in the near- and far-term,” said Phillip Robinson, Executive Director & Attorney for Civil Justice, Inc. “I want to give kudos to the Governor and his leadership team for a job well done!”
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MA – Patrick Welcomes Expansion of Solar Panel Manufacturer. A Marlborough-based company that makes solar panels plans to double the size of a manufacturing facility being built at the former Fort Devens. Evergreen Solar also was announcing today it plans to more than triple its 300-person workforce to 1,000 workers. The conservation steps are expected to save the authority about $120,000 on its $12.5 million annual electric bill. The company’s CEO credits Gov. Deval Patrick’s emphasis on solar energy as the reason the company is expanding in Massachusetts.
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MI – Granholm Signs Mortgage Packages. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed two packages of bills affecting the mortgage industry and in part targeting the mortgage loan crisis. The programs allow some homeowners who have adjustable-rate mortgages, or who are delinquent on their mortgage and at risk of losing their homes, to refinance and secure 30-year, lower-interest, fixed-rate conventional loans.
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MT – Schweitzer: State Commodity Exports Reach Record Highs. According to the Montana Department of Commerce, commodity exports are on the rise. They increased by almost 35% last year to reach a record high of about $1.75 billion dollars. Among manufactured products, many commodity groups set new records. Bulk shipments of wheat led all commodity exports with more than $600 million dollars in sales. Vehicles, parts and accessory items topped $100 million dollars for the first time. Governor Brian Schweitzer says over the past five years, Montana has had the second highest annual growth rate in export value in the nation. Montana is also one of the only 22 states to see growth in both exports and manufacturing employment.
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NH – Lynch: Economy in Better Shape than Most States. New Hampshire’s economic situation, although weaker than it once was, remains stronger than the economies of other states, Gov. John Lynch has said. Lynch discussed the economy and other matters on a visit to Dynamic Network Services Inc., an Internet services company. “The economy is clearly softening and New Hampshire isn’t immune from national trends, but we are doing better than most states,” Lynch said.
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NM – Editorial: Take Advantage of State’s Energy Tax Breaks. Gov. Bill Richardson has declared New Mexico the “Clean Energy State.” Policies put into place and legislation enacted to encourage solar energy system installation, green building and energy efficiency have taken root and are starting to bear fruit. New Mexico gives its citizens tax credits of up to $9,000 per system (solar photovoltaic or solar thermal) for those who install either or both systems by the end of 2015. In 2006, the first year the solar energy tax credit was available, 106 taxpayers applied for and received tax credits. In 2007, the number of applications more than doubled to 215, representing an investment of $4 million in renewable solar energy systems by New Mexicans last year.
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OH – Strickland Expands Foreclosure Aid Program, Free Legal Services. In an extraordinary multi-agency effort, Gov. Ted Strickland and other state leaders have announced the latest component of Ohio’s “Save the Dream” foreclosure assistance program: a new initiative that connects qualified homeowners with legal aid lawyers and nearly 1,100 attorneys statewide who have volunteered to provide legal services free of charge.
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OK – Henry Approves Emergency Funds for Schools. Gov. Brad Henry has signed a supplemental funding bill to provide $11.5 million in emergency funds to Oklahoma public schools. Henry signed the supplemental appropriations bill and said public schools will need even more money to help address a funding shortfall in the fiscal year ending June 30. The governor and state lawmakers are trying to fill a revenue shortfall in an education fund that supplements the public school budget. The supplemental funding bill provides $10 million to cover part of the shortfall and another $1.5 million to address needs in the Academic Achievement Award program.
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TN – Bredesen Welcomes New Jobs. Auto parts supplier Denso Corp. has held a grand opening for its fourth plant in Blount County. The new facility in Maryville, which began operations in October 2007, employs more than 400 people. The company employs more than 3,000 in the county and plans to hire another 500. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Matt Kisber attended the ceremony.
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WV – Manchin Cracks Down on DUI. Harsher penalties will be enacted against drunken drivers with blood alcohol levels of 0.15 under legislation signed by Gov. Joe Manchin. The measure creates an aggravated driving under the influence charge. That crime carries a mandatory penalty of two days to six months in jail.
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WI – State Announces Doyle Grant for Computer and Innovation Training. The state Department of Workforce Development has announced a $89,179 grant to the Bay Area Workforce Development Board to coordinate training for advanced manufacturing, computer skills, and innovation training for 251 workers. The grant is part of Gov. Jim Doyle’s Emerging Industries Skills Partnership, which is part of his Grow Wisconsin initiative. The workforce training program was established to help workers and employers keep pace with changing needs in the high-tech manufacturing sector.
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