Gov. Snyder's new "Detroit - Canada" Bridge -- will it proceed?

from M - Live dot-com

Senate Democrats have decided to band together and will vote for Gov. Rick Snyder's new Detroit-Canada bridge -- but there's a big if.

MIRS reports that the 12 Democrats -- whose votes are critical on the project that's been called a lot of things (some not suitable for print), including the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) -- will vote "yes" if they make sure folks living in the Detroit neighborhood affected by the new bridge are compensated. That's known as community benefits.
If there's a deal, there are probably enough votes to get the NITC bills out of the Senate Economic Development Committee and probably through the full Senate.

If Democrats don't win community benefits, Snyder can probably kiss the bridge goodbye. Scrounging up six GOP votes on the bridge is definitely doable, but they will not have come easy.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) spent months showing senators how many jobs would be created in their district thanks to a deal with the Canadians and the feds. The Canadians give us $550 million and the feds say that's good to meeting our match for federal highway funds. That means lots of infrastructure projects across the state.

But getting 19 GOP votes will be just about impossible. Not with Matty Moroun, owner of the private Ambassador Bridge opposing the NITC, being so generous with both money and erroneous information.

The bridge is far from a done deal even if it clears the Senate, as it still has to get through the House. On Friday, House Speaker Jase Bolger ripped Snyder's plan to WJR:

"We hear the concerns from our constituents and we share those concerns that Michigan taxpayers are not on the hook -- not on the hook to subsidize the operation and not on the hook for any long-term debt. The Governor's proposal does not include that. The obligation then of the Legislature -- if it's going to approve that -- is to make sure that does not happen."

But Bolger's spokesman quickly asserted Friday night that the speaker "misspoke" and he believes the "governor's bridge proposal does shield taxpayers and the Legislature needs to make sure those protections stay in there."

(Article by Susan J. Demas, Contributor to Michigan LIVE) - October 15, 2011; posted 1:20 p.m. Eastern Time Zone