I want to remind our members that Governor Granholm submitted her budget recommendations just last month, and I am glad to be saying that we are on schedule for most of it and will be working on those budgets in the next couple of weeks. At that time, however, she also proposed a capital outlay budget, and it is up to us to review those recommendations that she has made and change them if we see fit. As I see it, we should pass this budget and make those proposals a reality as swiftly and decisively as we can so that those funds can be disbursed.

The Governor’s proposal includes nearly $1 billion for university and community college construction projects and $42 million in renewable energy incentives to those institutions that will make sure the government’s green is going toward the construction of cleaner and greener buildings. This is exactly the type of economic stimulus that Michigan needs right now.

In the short-term, it means more jobs for building and constructions workers in our state. In the long-term, these are projects that will improve our college and universities by building up programs that will help diversify our economy and create 21st century jobs. The choice is ours. We can either be a roadblock or a red carpet for economic growth here in Michigan.

The urgency that has surrounded some of these projects should apply to all of them, as these are projects that are important to the economy. We run the risk of losing $100 million in federal funds attached to some projects if we don’t act soon, and many of our colleges and universities have been waiting several years for their projects to be approved. They have already been delayed and postponed for too long, and with our budget responsible for up to 75 percent of these project costs, they will never get off the ground without our support. Each of the ten proposed projects for our state’s public universities were identified as the No. 1 building priority for that school. Of those No. 1 priorities for growth and expansion, they could end up delayed yet another year because we are second-guessing.

These airports, agencies, and institutions have a great deal of money attached to these building projects that will create jobs, spur growth, and stimulate economic development and encourage health and technology services. We could be putting building and construction workers to work right now while also laying the groundwork for future job growth by investing in higher education in high-growth sectors of the economy like life sciences.

All of these ventures are vital to the state’s economic development, and we shouldn’t delay any one of them any further. This budget deserves to be passed without delay, and I hope we do that soon.