Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State speech was stirring, emotional and inspiring to some. But she left out a few key things - chief among them that maintaining the state's relatively modest investment in early childhood programs and supports is key to developing the evolved and flexible future workforce that she mentioned over and over again.

For instance, she passionately touted the film industry, green jobs, new auto sector jobs and more. Jobs, she said, are her Job One:  "In the year ahead, my motto will continue to be I will go anywhere, do anything to bring jobs to
Michigan."

Great. Now as these industries grow in Michigan, they're going to need employees who are smart and industrious. Problem is, a lot of children don't turn into those types of employees because they don't get the basics between birth and age 5 that set them on the path to achievement.

Their moms don't get prenatal care, preschool, or quality child care while mom and dad work. In many cases, they are abused or neglected and fail to develop the social and emotional skills needed to do well once they reach kindergarten.  Research tells us that kids who start off poorly in school often continue to do poorly. They more often end up needing expensive special education. They repeat grades more often - also expensive. Often they end up dropping out in their teens and thereafter winding up in jail or on welfare, which costs states far more than what it would have cost to prevent the problems in the first place.

The funny thing is, Gov. Granholm helped start the state's Great Start system, which is improving the lives of so many. And yet in her speech she failed to give even so much as a nod to early childhood programs and efforts that may well end up in the gun sights of lawmakers seeking cuts in this ugliest of budget years.

The state's most vulnerable children deserved better. Even if it were only a few words of support.

                                                                                                                                        -- Andy Heller

Andrew Heller is Media Director for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.