Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow last year had the 11th most liberal voting record in the Senate – exceeding 80% – and was on the party leadership team that unveiled its health care package last week in the Democraticruled Senate.

Representative Dave Camp (R-Midland) has a solid conservative voting record – approaching 80%, according to the National Journal system for Capitol Hill ratings – and was among Republicans leading the futile effort to pass a GOP health care alternative in the Democratic ruled House.

But, lo and behold, Stabenow and Camp emerged on the same page last week on an issue where Governor Jennifer Granholm and some state Republicans are showing rare bipartisan cooperation: promoting alternative energy projects that will stimulate job creation.

There are far bigger issues in both Lansing and Washington these days, but it is good to note an area that is in sharp contrast to prevailing partisan bicker mania in both capitals.

"Stabenow, Camp Announce Bi-Partisan Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act," headlined a Stabenow press release.

She said: "Michigan companies continue to lead the way in solar manufacturing, creating good-paying jobs and laying the foundation for 21st century manufacturing."

Joining Representative Mike Thompson (D-California) in introducing the bill to offer a tax credit to solar manufacturers, Camp, ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said: "Michigan is fast becoming a leader in solar manufacturing, and the bill we have introduced today will further help this industry grow and create much needed jobs.

"With the highest unemployment in the country, this is exactly the jobs-creating program we need to focus on, and this sort of manufacturing is just what Michigan needs. As the author of the tax credit for the purchase of electric plug-in vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles, I have long championed incentives for the manufacture and use of alternative fuels."

Indeed he has. Years ago, to underscore his initiatives, he presided at a demonstration of alternative fuel vehicles at the Traverse City Civic Center.

Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, leading contender to get his party’s 2010 gubernatorial nomination, also has credentials as an advocate of alternative energy initiatives. He has long touted "Green Jobs for Blue Waters," a theme picked up by the Granholm administration as part of promoting water, wind, wood and other sources to tap energy.

Last week, from Tel Aviv, Cherry announced that a second Israeli firm he met with on his investment mission there has committed to a pilot project in Oakland County for energy generation directly from wastewater.

Cherry, who met with more than 20 CEOs from leading Israeli water technology companies, said: "This commitment is another important step in establishing Michigan as the gateway to water technology in North America. Green Jobs for Blue Waters has played a pivotal role in Michigans economic diversification."

Cherrys statement was released by Granholms office, which, to put it mildly, has helped trumpet Cherrys blitz of activities as he approaches Election 2010.

Republican Bill Schuette, who has served in all three branches of government and as lawmaker in both Lansing and Washington, is one of the most versatile politicians I have known. Like Detroit Tigers who can catch, and also play first or third base.

After being a three-term congressman, unsuccessful 1990 nominee for the U.S. Senate, state senator and state agriculture director (with wife Cynthia, he started the annual Michigan Harvest Gathering food drive for the needy that lives on), and elected judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals covering all northern counties and beyond, he quit the court to run for attorney general.

Schuette, 56, is early leading contender to be next years Republican nominee to replace term-limited AG Mike Cox, a top tier contender for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

During the recent 20th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall, I was reminded of what makes the ebullient Schuette such an interesting seize-the-moment figure. On the day that word came that the wall was beginning to fall, then-Congressman Schuette told his staff to figure a way to get him there immediately. They did, and within 24 hours, he was at the wall as it collapsed.

Other Michigan politicians had been at the wall, including Governor Bill Milliken in 1981 and shortly after it was built about 20 years earlier in August of 1961. But Schuette says he was the only Michigan politician there as the wall hit the dirt.

His staff ever so kindly provided film of that day for media airing.

George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.