LIVONIA, MI—Mike Cox today said Democrats’ plan to get into the banking business, grow an already bloated state government with a massive new spending program and leave families on the hook for the bank’s losses is irresponsible.

The proposed bank could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and leave taxpayers on the hook for bad investments and financial losses at a time when state government should shrink not grow. Cox renewed his call to dramatically cut government spending, slash the jobs tax called the Michigan Business tax and cut the income tax on families to turn around Michigan’s economy.

“Government spending is out of control at the state and federal level,” said Cox. “The last thing taxpayers need right now is to pay more taxes to create more government spending on their behalf. Michigan taxpayers shouldn’t have been forced to bail out big Wall Street banks for mistakes they made and Lansing shouldn’t build a state-owned bank at taxpayers’ expense. At some point gubernatorial candidates, members of the state legislature and Congress, even members of my own Party, have to start being fiscally responsible.”

“The best way to bring jobs back to Michigan is to get government out of the way of job makers and entrepreneurs, not grow it with another big government program,” Cox continued. “That’s why my plan cuts government spending by billions and cuts taxes on job makers and families.”

Cox is the only candidate for Governor to release a comprehensive 92 point plan to put Michigan back to work, including proposals to reform education, cut billions of dollars out of the state budget, cut taxes on job providers and families by $2 billion, make government more transparent and revitalize our cities. The plan is available at www.mikecox2010.com.

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For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Cox: Lift the Charter Cap, Create Tougher Standards, Allow Alternative Teacher Certification and Reform System to Help Our Kids

LIVONIA, MI— Attorney General Mike Cox today called on the Michigan Education Association to embrace immediate education reforms to help children including lifting the cap on charter schools, improving curriculums and expanding alternative teacher certification. “Robert Bobb has made a significant impact on the 86,000 students still trapped in the failed Detroit Public School system, but there is much more to do,” said Cox. “We must remove the cap on charter schools, allow alternative teacher certification and ensure higher curriculum standards are implemented. These reforms and others laid out in my education agenda will help prepare our children for the new economy and a brighter future in Michigan.” The U.S. Department of Education last week rejected giving federal funds to schools in Michigan as a part of the Race to the Top Program. Many critics have cited the Michigan Education Association’s opposition to Race to the Top reforms as a significant factor in the federal government’s rejection of Michigan schools. Even Governor Granholm said she worried the MEA’s opposition contributed to Michigan schools not being selected to participate. Cox also said he was looking forward to the announcement later this week by a group of local foundations expected to unveil a $200 million plan to build 70 new schools for Detroit kids. “Michigan has community leaders, thousands of great teachers and millions of parents who truly care about our children. It’s high time the leadership at the Michigan Education Association embraced true education reform,” stated Cox. “Our kids need our Cox Calls on MEA to Put Kids First, Support Immediate Education Reform schools to improve and the Michigan Education Association needs to get on board with these reforms.” Cox is the only candidate for Governor to release a comprehensive 92 point plan to put Michigan back to work, including proposals to reform education, cut billions of dollars out of the state budget, cut taxes on job providers and families by $2 billion, make government more transparent and revitalize our cities. The plan is available at www.mikecox2010.com.

LIVONIA, MI– One of America’s most respected conservative leaders, former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee today formally endorsed Mike Cox in the 2010 race for Governor.

“Mike Cox is best described as Michigan’s Pro-Life, Pro-gun conservative candidate for Governor,” said Huckabee. “Mike is an innovative, strong leader who is not afraid to take a stand on an important issue. He is opposed to the runaway tax and spend policies we are seeing at the federal and state levels.”

Cox’s message of less spending, lower taxes and reformed government has set him apart in Michigan’s race for Governor. Cox recently drew a crowd of 1,200 families, activists and community leaders to a Rally for Michigan’s Future in Oakland County and hundreds more last weekend to the Grand Opening of his campaign headquarters in Livonia.

“Mike Huckabee is one of our nation’s most respected leaders,” said Cox. “Mike Huckabee continues to fight for more liberty and less government. I am proud to have his support and am honored he is standing beside me as we fight to bring jobs back to Michigan.”

Cox announced Huckabee’s endorsement first today via social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, U-Stream and conservative bloggers across Michigan.

Huckabee has been called an early frontrunner for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination scoring well in many polls including last November’s Gallup-USA Today poll. Mike Huckabee polled ahead of President Obama as recently as January 2010.

“Mike Cox has also fought hard to protect Second Amendment rights in Michigan,” Huckabee continued. “I am proud to endorse Mike Cox for Governor of Michigan.”

Cox is the only candidate for Governor to release a comprehensive 92 point plan to put Michigan back to work, including proposals to cut billions of dollars out of the state budget, cut taxes on job providers and families by $2 billion, make government more transparent, reform education, and revitalize our cities. The plan is available at www.mikecox2010.com.

The Mike Cox 2010 Campaign also recently announced that it raised $1.8 million in 2009 – with roughly $1.5 million cash on hand. The funds came from over 2,500 individual donors – with roughly 1,000 of the contributors donating less than $100.

For more information on Mike Cox’s campaign for Governor, please visit www.mikecox2010.com or call the campaign office today at 734-525-5035.

About Gov. Mike Huckabee: Prior to his 2008 presidential campaign, Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007 and as the state’s lieutenant governor from 1993-1996. As a young adult, he served as a pastor and denominational leader. He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the largest denomination in Arkansas. Huckabee’s efforts to improve his own health have received national attention. He is the author of 6 books, the most recent being “Do the Right Thing,” which spent its first 7 weeks of release in the top ten of the New York Times Bestseller list. He is currently the host of the top rated weekend hit “HUCKABEE” on the Fox News Channel, and is heard three times daily across the nation on the “Huckabee Report.” Huckabee and his wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.

Contact: Stu Sandler

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Mike Cox Calls for Substantive Reforms–
Not Tax Increases, Half Measures and Reinforced Status Quo

Southfield, MI – Mike Cox today slammed Governor Granholm’s latest budget proposal for raising taxes on families and reinforcing Lansing ’s broken status quo.

“The Governor’s budget doesn’t cut government enough and her new taxes only fuel the out-of control spending going on in Lansing,” said Cox. “Michigan families deserve better than half-measures and higher taxes. At a time when our State is hemorrhaging jobs to places like Ohio and Indiana, Michiganders need bold leadership and real change, not tax hikes on families and a reinforced status quo.”

“Once again, Governor Granholm has refused to bite the bullet and make the spending cuts required to balance the budget. Taxing people for haircuts and dry-cleaning to avoid making necessary reforms is not leadership. The working families and job-providers in this state need real tax relief and leadership on spending cuts. That’s why I’ve called for a $2 billion tax cut, spending cuts and reforms to empower families and job makers, not Lansing.”

Mike Cox’s message of less spending, lower taxes and reformed government has set him apart as Michigan’s leading candidate for Governor. Last Saturday Cox drew a crowd of 1,200 families, activists and community leaders to a Rally for Michigan’s Future in Oakland County . A recent EPIC / MRA poll found Cox leading his nearest primary competitor by seven points and outpacing the nearest Democrat by seventeen, more than any other Republican candidate for Governor.

“It is more obvious today than ever that Lansing is broken,” Cox continued. “The Governor had the opportunity to propose real, substantive reforms to get Michigan working again but chose instead to demand even more from over-stretched taxpayers. My plan will change that.”

Cox is the only candidate for Governor to release a comprehensive 92-point plan to put Michigan back to work, including proposals to cut billions of dollars out of the state budget, cut taxes on job-providers and families by $2 billion, make government more transparent, reform education, and revitalize our cities. The plan is available at www.mikecox2010.com.

Earlier this month, the Mike Cox 2010 Campaign also announced that it raised $1.8 million in 2009 – with roughly $1.5 million cash on hand. The funds came from over 2,500 individual donors – with roughly 1,000 of the contributors donating less than $100. Further demonstrating momentum toward the nomination, the campaign raised $550,000 in December 2009 and $785,000 in the 4th Quarter (Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2009) alone.

For more information on Mike Cox’s campaign for Governor, please visit www.mikecox2010.com or call the campaign office today at 734-525-5035.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Mike Cox Calls for Substantive Reforms–
Not Tax Increases, Half Measures and Reinforced Status Quo

Southfield, MI – Mike Cox today slammed Governor Granholm’s latest budget proposal for raising taxes on families and reinforcing Lansing ’s broken status quo.

“The Governor’s budget doesn’t cut government enough and her new taxes only fuel the out-of control spending going on in Lansing,” said Cox. “Michigan families deserve better than half-measures and higher taxes. At a time when our State is hemorrhaging jobs to places like Ohio and Indiana, Michiganders need bold leadership and real change, not tax hikes on families and a reinforced status quo.”

“Once again, Governor Granholm has refused to bite the bullet and make the spending cuts required to balance the budget. Taxing people for haircuts and dry-cleaning to avoid making necessary reforms is not leadership. The working families and job-providers in this state need real tax relief and leadership on spending cuts. That’s why I’ve called for a $2 billion tax cut, spending cuts and reforms to empower families and job makers, not Lansing.”

Mike Cox’s message of less spending, lower taxes and reformed government has set him apart as Michigan’s leading candidate for Governor. Last Saturday Cox drew a crowd of 1,200 families, activists and community leaders to a Rally for Michigan’s Future in Oakland County . A recent EPIC / MRA poll found Cox leading his nearest primary competitor by seven points and outpacing the nearest Democrat by seventeen, more than any other Republican candidate for Governor.

“It is more obvious today than ever that Lansing is broken,” Cox continued. “The Governor had the opportunity to propose real, substantive reforms to get Michigan working again but chose instead to demand even more from over-stretched taxpayers. My plan will change that.”

Cox is the only candidate for Governor to release a comprehensive 92-point plan to put Michigan back to work, including proposals to cut billions of dollars out of the state budget, cut taxes on job-providers and families by $2 billion, make government more transparent, reform education, and revitalize our cities. The plan is available at www.mikecox2010.com.

Earlier this month, the Mike Cox 2010 Campaign also announced that it raised $1.8 million in 2009 – with roughly $1.5 million cash on hand. The funds came from over 2,500 individual donors – with roughly 1,000 of the contributors donating less than $100. Further demonstrating momentum toward the nomination, the campaign raised $550,000 in December 2009 and $785,000 in the 4th Quarter (Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2009) alone.

For more information on Mike Cox’s campaign for Governor, please visitwww.mikecox2010.com or call the campaign office today at 734-525-5035.