Michigan Governor Keeps 'Blown Away' Promise 2 Years Ahead of Schedule

Jennifer Granholm, Michigan's governor, an Obama economic adviser, and the longest-serving chief executive to never once have an unflattering photograph published in the Detroit News or Free Press, expects to exceed by at least two years her 2006 promise to “blow away” Michigan citizens with a transformed economy in five years:

Following a University of Michigan economic forecast that shows the state will continue to bleed jobs over the next two years, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Friday she will make state budget cuts within two weeks.

Economists predicted the reeling economy will cost the state 124,000 jobs in 2009, another 49,000 in 2010 and $500 million in anticipated tax receipts over the two years. The forecast for those job losses in Michigan into 2010 illustrates that the state is in for several more tough economic years. (“Gov to slash budget over forecast”)

You Michigan folks may remember the budget crisis of 2007, driven almost purely by a refusal by the governor and the Democrats in Lansing seriously to consider cutting government spending to make up for a projected budget shortfall.

Only now, with the state economy in free-fall and no choices available, does she take the bold step she needed to take last year--and before.

That's leadership. I guess.