Reaction to Governor Granholm's Denial of 20 Clemency Applications

Interview Published June 16, 2006 Lansing State Journal

Tim Skubick: Parole decisions displease ex-guv

Milliken disagrees with Granholm, but may vote for her.

Even though he's been out of office for more than 20 years, when former Republican Gov. William Milliken speaks, lots of ears in this town still perk up.

There's one prominent exception, though.

Milliken and Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm have a disagreement over letting women out of prison.

Milliken believes the sitting governor is the "court of last resort" when it comes to correcting "inequities in the judicial system."

Granholm, an attorney general before she was a governor, considered the plight of 14 female inmates after talking with Milliken about them. She made her decision. The women went zero for 14.

The governor, acting on a recommendation from the parole board, conducted an "exhaustive review" but, in the end, found the clemency arguments "were not compelling enough."

Milliken begs to differ: "In the interest of justice and fairness ... at least some of them ought to have their sentences commuted."

Reminded that the public does not like early releases, and that the governor is running for re-election, Milliken was blunt.

"There comes a time when one has to say, 'politics be dammed.' I will do the right thing and I will do it now."

Milliken was quite passionate on the issue of political backbone during the taping of a statewide public TV show, set for broadcast at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Speaking in general, and not specifically about this governor, Milliken noted that to be a good governor, you have to be willing to expend political capital; to "pay the price." And if one "is not willing to pay that price", he went on, "then that person does not deserve to be in public life."

Lots of ears in this town should be ringing.

Echoing that hard-hitting sentiment is the former first lady Helen Milliken.

Asked if she shared her husband's concerns about those 14 female prisoners, Mrs. Milliken was equally as direct: "Those women need and deserve to be released."

Did she think the current governor was ducking because of the "politics of the issue?"

"Frankly, I'm afraid that is the basis of the issue, because I think (the governor) is a fair and an educated person."

Out of fairness, the former first family was also asked to check in on the candidacy of GOP challenger Dick DeVos.

"I have deep concerns," Mrs. Milliken began. She worries about his pro-life stance, being ardently pro-choice. On balance she concludes, "I'm just not certain what he stands for yet. He's made a lot of glowing hopes for the state of Michigan."

She wants details, as does her husband.

He will meet with the candidate soon and wants to hear about his stance on the environment, helping Detroit, and his support for public education.

Both Millikens profess to be undecided. But it's obvious they have leanings toward the incumbent.

"She has tried very hard to do a good job," Mr. Milliken observes under the toughest of economic times; none of which she created, he explains.

Mrs. Milliken holds a "very high" assessment of the present governor. So is she leaning toward an endorsement?

No answer.

They have obviously not forgotten how to play the game.

What do you think? Tim Skubick is a local television correspondent who writes a column for the State Journal on Fridays. Write him c/o Lansing State Journal, 120 E. Lenawee St., Lansing, MI 48919.