For Immediate Release: January 31, 2010
Governor’s proposals validate direction,
action long called for by Mike Bouchard
Oakland County - Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor, commended the governor for acknowledging that many of his proposals are what is needed to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work.
“For years, I have called on Gov. Granholm to act boldly and deliver meaningful change so that we can turn our state around,” Bouchard said. “After eight years of standing on the sidelines she is finally getting in the game. Many of the plans she outlined yesterday are similar to initiatives that I have long championed. She’s late to the party but welcome nonetheless.”
One example is Bouchard’s competitive bidding for inmate services. As Oakland County sheriff, Bouchard has saved taxpayers $1.6 million a year through this program. If the Department of Corrections did the same, it would save state taxpayers about $40 million annually.
“It has taken years of hounding but the governor now realizes that competitively bidding services is a cost-effective way to keep Michigan on sound financial footing,” Bouchard said.
Yesterday, Gov. Granholm released a number of ideas that closely mimic Bouchard’s proposals to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work, including ending lifetime healthcare for legislators, moving to a part-time Legislature, reducing costs through competitively bidding and consolidating services in schools (Bouchard would also extend to prisons), require a two-year budget with mid-year deadline and docking legislator’s wages for every day the budget is delayed.
http://www.bouchardforgovernor.com/home/2009/09/09/bouchard-applauds-the-mbc’s-call-for-reform/
http://www.bouchardforgovernor.com/home/2009/09/13/practical-budget-solutions/
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Paid for by Mike Bouchard
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068
