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Minner Welcomes New Jobs

Delaware – Kraft Foods is adding 40 jobs and expanding production at its Dover manufacturing plant. Kraft, the world’s second-biggest food company, is investing about $40 million in its 44-year-old Dover plant to increase production. The state awarded Kraft a $708,000 grant to help expand the 1 million-square-foot plant and boost production of its single-serve drink-mix packets to about 1 billion annually. The plant already employs about 520 workers.
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CAMPAIGN NEWS

WA – Gregoire Greets Packed Crowd on Campaign Stop. The chant began before Gov. Chris Gregoire entered the packed Labor Temple. “Four more years, four more years.” She trumpeted a long list of achievements for the entire state in an “amazing four years.” She cited an economic rebound from a $2.2 billion deficit to an $850 million reserve—the product of a roaring state economy. She said there’s been 230,000 new jobs created since she took office and she boasted of Fortune and Forbes magazines rating Washington as one of the nation’s more friendly states for business. She spoke proudly of funding voter-approved initiatives for smaller class sizes and higher teacher pay and providing health care to thousands more children in low-income families.
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GENERAL NEWS

IL – Blagojevich to Help Homeowners Fight Foreclosure. Illinois homeowners are getting additional resources to fight foreclosure and stay in their homes. The state has increased a lending pool for needy homeowners provided by institutions from $200 million to $310 million. Gov. Rod Blagojevich also wants to give homeowners a grace period of up to 60 days before a lender can attempt to foreclose on a home.
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MD – O’Malley Backs U.S. Aid for Foreclosures. Gov. Martin O’Malley appeared on Capitol Hill to urge passage of legislation that would direct federal dollars to augment state efforts to deal with a growing foreclosure crisis. O’Malley testified before the House Financial Services Committee in support of a Democratic plan being debated in that chamber that would expand the availability of loans insured by the federal government, help borrowers refinance mortgages, and provide loans and grants to enable local governments to buy foreclosed property. “We really do need federal help,” O’Malley said after the hearing. “We needed these dollars months ago.”
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NY – Paterson Expands Health Care to Uninsured Children. Nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in the State will have access to health insurance under the newly enacted state budget. The budget reforms the state’s reimbursements system to shift dollars to more effective primary and preventive care, and helps control runaway Medicaid costs under the newly enacted state budget. “Increasing access to health care for children and shifting our focus to preventative care are smart investments for a healthier New York,” said Gov. David Paterson. “Over the long term, these initiatives will produce better outcomes for patients and lower costs for taxpayers.”
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OH – Strickland Promotes Stimulus Plan, Energy Bill. Gov. Ted Strickland spoke in Toledo to drum up support for his new bipartisan $1.57 billion jobs stimulus package and his energy-restructuring bill. Ohio is facing huge economic challenges but the federal government isn’t likely to provide much help, the governor said. “This is something we can do for ourselves in Ohio,” Strickland said of his jobs stimulus plan. But the jobs plan isn’t the whole answer, he said: “We need energy restructuring. It’s hugely important to Ohio.”
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WV – Manchin Encourages Education Collaboration. Gov. Joe Manchin said public educators need to collaborate more with business, higher education, parents and others to help West Virginia students better compete in a global workforce. Manchin said he’s recognized the need to diversify West Virginia’s economy. He said initiatives such as “Bucks for Brains” are important. The program will match $50 million in state dollars with funds dedicated to research at West Virginia University and Marshall University. He also wants more focus on a global workforce. He hopes to send more students to college and help others master a trade.
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