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| Picture Courtesy of Forbes |
I would bet when I said the word "bridge" you thought this would be another boring article about Alaska and its infamous bridge to nowhere. If you did, I forgive you. That’s not where this going. However, welcome to the Wolverine State, the great state of Michigan, and what has to be some of the bloodiest and most expensive ballot proposals in the entire country - Proposition 5 and 6 (six is where most of the money is being spent).
The only spot in the US where America is north of Canada is in downtown Detroit. There is a bridge and tunnel connecting the cities of Detroit and Windsor there. The bridge is the Ambassador Bridge completed in 1929, and it also holds the distinction of being the only privately owned border crossing between the US and Canada. The State of Michigan and the government of Canada would like to build a new bridge to cross the Detroit River because it then could connect to a Canadian highway 401 and reduce traffic issues in Detroit and mainly in Windsor while also helping to increase trade between the two countries growing both economies.
Read more after the jump
This seems like a good idea and would provide the citizenry with a valuable resource and, over tim,e a profit. However, Detroit Billionaire Matty Moroun disagrees. He is vehemently opposed to the construction of the bridge because he OWNS the other the bridge and is willing to spend as much money as needed to stop construction. Thusly, we now enter the world of political absurdity. Greed leading to not one but two separate ballot proposals with the same intent to make Maroun wealthier and maintain the monopoly he has.
Proposal six, known as “Let the People Decide", is the explicitly anti-bridge amendment. It would require a majority of statewide voters to vote in favor of building any new international bridge or motor tunnel. The idea is simple- its delays construction and consequently the Moroun Family can spend more money making sure the subsequent proposal to build the bridge would never happen or pass. The wording is also very poor which could allow for any bridge not currently being built to be construed as an international bridge compromising Michigan infrastructure and halting all bridge construction. Also, Canada has agreed to approximately half a billion dollars upfront to build the on-land portions of the bridge such as on/off ramps, and two large customs depots. The plan, agreed to by former Michigan Governor Jenifer Granholm and Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper, is that the government would go to a private company to build the bridge itself at a cost of a few billion dollars. The company would then own the bridge for 50 years paying off Canada’s pre-fronted cost, the construction costs, and day to day operations of the bridge. The reward, however, is large in that the construction company gets to keep the profit. After 50 years, the bridge becomes property of the two governments. In essence, Moroun is the only opposition to the bridge. Gov. Rick Snyder, all former Michigan governors, the major Detroit companies, the UAW, and the Obama Administration support the building the bridge. Mouroun is simply trying to buy the voters of Michigan.
And if that doesn't make your stomach churn enough it continues to seep thorough to proposal 5. Prop 5 reads “ Require a 2/3 majority vote of the State House and the State Senate, or a statewide vote of the people at a November election, in order for the State of Michigan to impose new or additional taxes on taxpayers or expand the base of taxation or increasing the rate of taxation. This section shall in no way be construed to limit or modify tax limitations otherwise created in this Constitution.” It would effectively make it nearly impossible to raise taxes or change the tax code. This sounds like a fantastic idea to Matty because if it had been in place the Michigan Business Tax would still exist and for the Detroit International Bridge Company that would have saved them millions of dollars. Most other businesses were happy to see tax go. NPR quotes an article from Bridge magazine stating that the Liberty Bell Agency of Warren contributed $2,288,921 to the Prop 5 effort. Unsurprisingly Matty's son is a manager there. The second largest donation is 300 dollars. Not often do you have Democrats and Republicans disgusted with an idea like they are with this one. It is another great example of a special interest trying to take over a state. It is absurd that an angry and bitter 82 year old billionaire can carelessly wreak such havoc on a state to serve his bottom line.
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