U.P. Dems and Gov. Granholm Rally with Newberry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 Contact: Dan Farough Phone: (517) 373-2093

LANSING- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm joined State Representatives Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard), Steve Adamini (D-Marquette), Rich Brown (D-Bessemer) and state Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) today at a press conference and rally with the Newberry community against the Republican budget.

The press conference and rally were followed by a special hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee to hear testimony on the Newberry facility and Camp Manistique.

The House Republican budget that passed on June 9 proposes closing the two facilities, which employ 345 full-time workers. It also cuts $14 million from Northern Michigan University and reverses action to protect the Great Lakes.

"We have come here today to join the people of Newberry in their fight to oppose this budget," Adamini said. "This budget is bad for U.P. jobs; it's bad for U.P. students and bad for our Great Lakes. Make no mistake: we will fight this."

On Monday, U.P. Democrats launched 'U.P. At Risk,' a public pressure campaign to protect the Upper Peninsula. The campaign includes a Web site, www.upatrisk.com, and a cable show.

"When you attack one part of the U. P., you attack the entire U. P.," McDowell said.

Addressing cuts to Northern, Brown said: "Students on both sides of the bridge deserve the same respect and support."

The Republican budget has been condemned by editorial boards and leaders across the Upper Peninsula.

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