On October 10, I wrote about how Grosse Point billionaire and Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun, who has a lock on U.S/Canadian bridge traffic, was spending $5 million on misleading, dishonest television ads to trick the public into opposing the construction of a second bridge. I predicted that in today’s political climate, in which money speaks louder than the voice of the people, Moroun would probably get his way.
I was right.
New International Trade Crossing (NITC) legislation was voted down in the Senate Economic Development Committee yesterday. And the legislation’s sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), is throwing in the towel. “I’m done with it at this point. It’s unfortunate. An opportunity was missed” to create 20,000 to 40,000 jobs,” Richardville told the Detroit Free Press. “But there are other things we should be talking about.”
Like making abortion super-duper illegal, Senator? Or prohibiting medical marijuana even though 63 percent of state voters approved it a few years ago? Or how about considering that pressing teacher/student sex issue that’s on everyone’s minds?
Matty Moroun |
Color me surprised.
A coalition of more than 100 business, labor, and civic organizations that support a second bridge issued the following statement yesterday:
“We are deeply disappointed in the Senate committee’s failure to move the New International Trade Crossing legislation to the full Senate for a vote. A majority of senators on the committee support the building of the NITC, they just have to craft a piece of legislation that everyone can agree to. We urge the governor and the legislature to continue to work to find a compromise that a majority of senators can support. We encourage the legislature to put partisan politics aside and put the economic interest of our state and our workers first.”
Put partisan politics aside? Yeah, that’ll happen.
As a friend who works for a state senator says, “He who has the most cash wins.”
If he’s “throwing in the towel,” then he should resign as Senate Majority Leader. He obviously cannot control his caucus, and he cannot negotiate in good faith. This is the second time he double-crossed the Democrats.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the funny thing, I have never seen as issue that has so much bipartisan support, but one billionaire slumlord and a few teabaggers are killing it. Find me an issue where the Big 3, as well as Honda and Toyota, agree with the UAW. Find me an issue where labor agrees with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Find me an issue where all five living governors agree; three Republicans and two Democrats.