Michigan legislative action thread
Posted on 01/18/2014 7:33:27 PM PST by Squawk 8888
DETROIT -- Plans for a new bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada are moving more slowly than anticipated, partly because Washington doesn't seem to want to pay for a customs plaza on the American side of the span, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said.
The bridge, one of Snyder's most significant public projects since he took office in 2011, would compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge and take vehicles between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
The Canadian government, which believes another bridge would improve trade, has agreed to pay for most of it and recoup money later through tolls. But the U.S. needs to pay for a $250 million border inspection plaza.
"The U.S. government has largely taken a position that they don't think they should pay anything for a facility for the United States government," Snyder told the Detroit Free Press in a report published Saturday.
He said there's still time to solve the problem since land acquisition and design work must be completed first.
"In the meantime, I wouldn't want to see the rest of the bridge held up over what you might describe as a somewhat difficult-to-understand attitude," the governor said.
Snyder said inaction in Washington is "not totally inconsistent with other behaviour out of Washington."
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"There's been no significant progress," Roy Norton, Canada's representative in Detroit, told the Free Press. "Engineering studies are virtually complete; land assembly on the Michigan side will get underway in 2014. ... But we can't call for bidders until there's a commitment to build the U.S. plaza."
Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun vigorously opposes the new bridge.
In addition to campaign donations and lobbying in Lansing and Washington, Moroun's lawyers have filed lawsuits challenging the project in U.S. and Canadian courts.
ping
Canada Ping!
For goodness sake give Obambi a break! That Customs Plaza costs money that is needed to hand out more EBT to Negroes and other minorities. Gotta buy those votes dontcha know.
Heck, he already got a GOPe type to help stab veterans in the back with the COLA cuts.
Here’s a thought, no customs plaza.
What happen to the family that want the contract and would build the bridge?
Can’t think of the name some Irishman.
How odd, normally you would see Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's name with the obligatory (R) next to his name.
But in this article I suspect it was omitted not out of negligence or accident but so the discerning reader would not come to the conclusion that the Obama administration is not moving to support this bridge because Obama and his minions do not want to support an initiative put forth by and that might benefit a Republican governor if it is completed.
That would certainly speed things up.
This is the man
Questions about bridge battle answered amid swirling accusations
The claims and counterclaims about the benefits, the risks, the fairness and the vulnerability of Michigan taxpayers are flying in TV ads, in political caucuses, in boardrooms.
Whether to build a second span over the Detroit River or not to build?
Whether to allow Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel (Matty) Moroun to build his own twin span alongside the Ambassador, or to have the Canadian government and Michigan partner to build a new public bridge 2 miles downstream, near Zug Island?
http://buildthedricnow.com/2011/04/24/battle-over-new-bridge-is-ramping-up/
Now what we are stuck paying the build?
Matty Maroun was never going to build another bridge. That was just his ploy to keep things tied up for his friends on the Detroit city council.
They’re pissed off because Canada isn’t going to give them “their cut”.
I knew something ended up stinking could not think of it
0bama has been given $2 tril for walking around money and he can’t come up with the Jack for a crumby toll plaza? (voice rising with incredulity)
This is ALL tied in to the fact that Michigan has a REPUBLICAN governor which Obama’s government Homeland Defense apparatchiks want to damage in any way possible (similar to the corrupt IRS’ treatment of Tea Party groups) added to the fact that the bridge’s proponents aren’t paying the customary “bribes” to Detroit’s corrupt Democrat overlords.
dear federalis why don’t you use the money you give to your islamist terrorist friends (aka America’s eenemies).
Michigan is slipping away from the democrats and must be punished.
If it truly benefits America and creates jobs, the bam won’t like it.
Hey, Ricky, repeat after me.......”Thanks, but no thanks”
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