Radio Address highlights launch of new Save Money website
 
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today highlighted the launch of a new feature on the state website designed to provide consumers with information they can use to help save them money. 
 
"For more than five years, we have been focused on doing what we can to help citizens save money," Granholm said.  "The recent run-up in the price of gas, coupled with a struggling national economy, has made our commitment all the more important.  That's why this week we added a new feature on the michigan.gov website that is designed to give citizens easy access to money-saving information."
 
The feature located at www.michigan.gov/savemoneyis part of the governor's continued efforts to help protect consumers' pocketbooks.  The site combines money-saving information from throughout state government into one, easy-to-find location and includes tips on ways to save money on everything from gas to groceries to education and healthcare.
 
"Throughout the year, we plan to add more information to the Save Money site to help you save a buck whenever you can," Granholm said.  "So we hope you'll visit www.michigan.gov/savemoney- and visit it often."  
 
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state.  The address is available on the governor's Web site at (www.michigan.gov/gov) for download, together with a clip of the quote above.  The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.  Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
 
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Save Money Website Launch
July 3, 2008
 
Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov152_Full_240972_7.mp3
Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov152_Edit_240975_7.mp3
Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov152_Quote_240977_7.mp3   
 
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
 
For more than five years, we have been focused on doing what we can to help citizens save money.  
 
We were the first state in the nation to establish a prescription drug purchasing pool to help us get more for our money and offer citizens the MiRx card so they can get a discount on their prescriptions, too. 
 
We've sold state planes, we've reduced the number of vehicles in the state fleet, we've limited state employee travel, we've eliminated bonuses, we've reduced energy consumption in state government, we've ended no-bid contracts - all of this to ensure that we are being as frugal with your tax dollars as possible.
 
This year, the Earned Income Tax Credit and an increase in the minimum wage will help put more money in citizens' pockets, and every high school graduate now has access to a $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship for college or training.
 
The recent run-up in the price of gas, coupled with a struggling national economy, has made our commitment all the more important, and that is why, this week, we've added a new feature on the michigan.gov website - a feature designed to give citizens easy access to money-saving information. 
 
The Save Money feature is all about getting the most "bang for your buck" and making the money you spend go a little further.
 
On the eve of a Fourth of July weekend, the most valuable information on our Save Money Web site may be where to find the best deal on gas in your neighborhood . . .and tips on how to stretch your gas dollar, too.  There is a calculator that gives information on how much you are spending on commuting and how much you can save if you share the ride.
 
If all of this makes you want to join a car pool, our Save Money site has information on how to go about it.  And if you want to start a car pool, the SaveMoney site shows the location of every MDOT - Michigan Department of Transportation park-and-ride lot in Michigan to make car pooling easier.
 
Throughout the year, we plan to add more information to the Save Money site to help you save a buck whenever you can, so we hope you'll visit www.michigan.gov/savemoney- and visit it often.
 
And just a final reminder, while it's important to know that adjusting the speed you drive can affect your pocketbook it can also affect your safety.  So if you're traveling this holiday weekend remember:  Buckle up and don't drink and drive and enjoy the Fourth in this beautiful state we call home.
 
Thank you for listening.
 
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