Back when it was called the Detroit River International Crossing supported by Governor Granholm all of the Republicans in the State Senate were against it and all but one Democrat was for it.
Now that Governor Snyder supports it Republicans are finding it much more palatable. Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville went from being against the project to submitting the bills for it. In September of 2007, before the major economic melt down, Richardville said "Despite the state's current budget problems, MDOT" is pushing forward with "building an unnecessary bridge".
At the time he also stated that "MDOT insists on moving forward with plans to build a bridge on a massively polluted site". I can not find any information suggesting that the site for the bridge has changed since Richardville's original objections. If that is the case and the site is still the same I'm not sure why his objection to the site no longer exist.
Richardville's new found support for the project seems to be focused around some maneuvering that Governor Snyder has done which basically eliminates that tax burden on Michigan residents. Unfortunately this offer was on the table about a year ago or a full 6 months before Richadville voted against the then DRIC.
Adding to the confusion is the statements from Governor Snyder on how important this is to Michigan's trade and jobs. If this is true now then it was also true when Richardville was against this "unnecessary bridge". Canada apparently thinks it has so much value that they are willing to spend millions, and perhaps billions, of their own money as well as chip in Michigan's $550 million.
The main opponents to this bridge, not surprisingly, are the owners of the Ambassador Bridge. They put together a report showing how a new bridge will lose millions a dollars a year. Their President of operations, Dan Stamper, also claims that traffic across the bridge has been decreasing for the past decade so there is no need for a new bridge yet his company has spent millions on efforts to expand their own bridge.
Unfortunately the Republican objections to the plan appear more tied the $553,665 in campaign contributions that they received from the owners of the Ambassador Bridge than anything else. After all the bridge will create jobs, cost Michigan tax payers nothing and create competition. I thought those were the ideas that got Republicans elected in November.
At least in this case Governor Snyder has put the good of the state ahead of his re-election. If only every politician were so inclined.
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