The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today applauded the Michigan Legislature for passing a much-needed comprehensive energy reform for Michigan.

"By passing this legislation (House Bills 5524 and Senate Bill 213), the Michigan Legislature has set the framework to help build new energy sources in Michigan and ensure homeowners and business have access to safe, reliable and affordable energy," said Rich Studley, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber. "We applaud Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, House Speaker Andy Dillon, and Governor Granholm for working together on this important economic development issue."

"Getting the fundamentals of Michigan's economy right is a key factor in future economic growth for our state," noted Jim Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy & Associate General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "Having reliable and affordable energy is an important requirement in moving Michigan forward."

"A critically important element of this package for Michigan's job providers is returning to electric rates based on cost of service for industrial and commercial rate payers," explained Doug Roberts, Jr., Director of Environmental & Energy Policy for the Michigan Chamber. "Phasing out the subsidy paid by business customers over the next five years will provide over $350 million in rate relief. This much needed rate relief will help to make Michigan's electric rates for employers more competitive with other states."

We applaud the following lawmakers for their leadership role in fashioning this legislation: Representatives: Frank Accavitti, Jr., Jeff Mayes, Mike Nofs and David Palsrok; and Senators Patty Birkholz and Randy Richardville.

The Michigan Chamber also expresses its thanks to the following lawmakers for voting to support job providers on this important issue.

  Representatives:

  Frank Accavitti, Jr. (42 - Eastpointe)  Rick Jones (71- Grand Ledge)
  Kathy Angerer (55 - Dundee)             Robert Jones (60 - Kalamazoo)
  Richard Ball (85 - Laingsburg)          Marty Knollenberg (41 - Troy)
  Joan Bauer (68 - Lansing)               Michael Lahti (110 - Hancock)
  Doug Bennett (92 - Muskegon)            Philip LaJoy (21 - Canton)
  Steve Bieda (25 - Warren)               Kathleen Law (23 - Gibraltar)
  Darwin Booher (102 - Evart)             Richard LeBlanc (18 - Westland)
  Terry Brown (84 - Pigeon)               Gabe Leland (10 - Detroit)
  Pam Byrnes (52 - Chelsea)               LaMar Lemmons, Jr. (2 - Detroit)
  Barb Byrum (67 - Onondaga)              Steven Lindberg (109 - Marquette)
  Brian Calley (87 - Portland)            Jeff Mayes (96 - Bay City)
  Bruce Caswell (58 - Hillsdale)          Gary McDowell (107- Rudyard)
  Bill Caul (99 - Mt. Pleasant)           Mark Meadows (69 - East Lansing)
  Marsha Cheeks (6 - Detroit)             Andy Meisner (27 - Ferndale)
  Ed Clemente (14 - Lincoln Park)         Tim Melton (29 - Auburn Hills)
  Paul Condino (35 - Southfield)          Fred Miller (31 - Mt. Clemens)
  Bob Constan (16 - Dearborn Heights)     John Moolenaar (98 - Midland)
  Marc Corriveau (20 - Northville)        Tim Moore (97 - Farwell)
  Andy Coulouris (95 - Saginaw)           Mike Nofs (62 - Battle Creek)
  George Cushingberry, Jr. (8 - Detroit)  David Palsrok (101 - Manistee)
  Spkr. Andy Dillon (17 - Redford Twp)    John Pastor (19 - Livonia)
  Marie Donigan (26 - Royal Oak)          Gino Polidori (15 - Dearborn)
  Kate Ebli (56 - Monroe)                 John Proos (79 - St. Joseph)
  Kevin Elsenheimer (105 - Bellaire)      David Robertson (51 - Grand Blanc)
  John Espinoza (83 - Croswell)           Tory Rocca (30 - Sterling Heights)
  Barbara Farrah (13 - Southgate)         Michael Sak (76 - Grand Rapids)
  Ed Gaffney (1 - Grosse Pte. Farms)      Tonya Schuitmaker (80 - Lawton)
  Matt Gillard (106 - Alpena)             Joel Sheltrown (103 - Westbranch)
  Lee Gonzales (49 - Flint)               Mike Simpson (65 - Jackson)
  Marty Griffin (64 - Jackson)            Alma Smith (54 - South Lyon)
  Richard Hammel (48 - Flushing)          Dudley Spade (57 - Tipton)
  Ted Hammon (50 - Burton)                Steve Tobocman (12 - Detroit)
  Goeff Hansen (100 - Hart)               Aldo Vagnozzi (37 - Farmington
                                           Hills)
  Dave Hildenbrand (86 - Lowell)          Mary Valentine (91 - Muskegon)
  Morris Hood, III (11 - Detroit)         Howard Walker (104 - Traverse
                                           City)
  Hoon-Yung Hopgood (22 - Taylor)         Chris Ward (66 - Brighton)
  Ken Horn (94 - Frankenmuth)             Rebekah Warren (53 - Ann Arbor)
  Joe Hune (47 - Hamburg Twp.)            Lisa Wojno (28 - Warren)
  Bert Johnson (5 - Highland Park)        Coleman Young, II (4 - Detroit)


  Senators:

  Jason Allen (37 - Traverse City)        Tupac Hunter (5 - Detroit)
  Glenn Anderson (6 - Westland)           Gilda Jacobs (14 - Huntington
                                           Woods)
  James Barcia (31 - Bay City)            Michelle McManus (35 - Lake
                                           Leelenau)
  Raymond Basham (8 - Taylor)             Dennis Olshove (9 - Warren)
  Maj. Ldr. Mike Bishop                   John Pappageorge (13 - Troy)
   (12 - Rochester)
  Liz Brater (18 - Ann Arbor)             Michael Prusi (38 - Ishpeming)
  Nancy Cassis (15 - Novi)                Randy Richardville (17 - Monroe)
  Deborah Cherry (26 - Burton)            Mark Schauer (19 - Battle Creek)
  Irma Clark-Coleman (3 - Detroit)        Martha Scott (2 - Highland Park)
  Hansen Clarke (1 - Detroit)             Tony Stamas (36 - Midland)
  Alan Cropsey (33 - DeWitt)              Michael Switalski (10 - Roseville)
  Jud Gilbert (25 - Algonac)              Buzz Thomas (4 - Detroit)
  John Gleason (27 - Flushing)

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business advocacy organization representing over 7,100 employers of every type and size in all 83 counties in Michigan.

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SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Doug Roberts, Jr. of Michigan Chamber of Commerce,
+1-517-371-7673

Web site: http://www.michamber.com/