Proposal 6 is a constitutional amendment that would require a public vote before the State of Michigan could participate in the Next International Trade Crossing between Detroit and Windsor. Sounds good, right? And it actually may be a good idea in general. However, we need to step back and take a look at the real issue on this proposal.
There are two issues here really. The first is the ability to have a second bridge from the USA to Canada for commerce, leisure and another option if something occurs to the current Ambassador Bridge. The second issue is that Matty Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, won’t have a monopoly on bridges to and from Canada and he and his family will stand to lose a lot of money. It is Moroun who is funding the “Let the People Decide” campaign. It is this campaign which is lying to Michigan citizens.
First off, I think any union member who sees one of Moroun’s “Vote Yes on Proposal 6” ads should be in an uproar. Anti-union Matty Moroun, who is friends with the Koch Brothers—creators of union destroyer “Americans for Prosperity”—is using union members—police, firefighters, nurses and TEACHERS (yes, the ones they have been stripping bargaining rights and benefits from) are featured in the commercials. Link to Moroun-Koch Brothers here—
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/...
For crying out loud, Karl Rove, would be smirking in glee over this hypocrisy! Anti-union Maroun using alleged union members to get us to vote for him to keep his monopoly. From one of their ads: “But the real price isn’t just in dollars. It’s what we’re giving up: high quality teachers for our kids; more cops on the beat; firefighters and EMTs; reduced pension taxes for seniors. Real cuts hurting real people.”
Add onto this another backer against the New International Bridge is anti-tax zealot, Grover Norquist. Norquist is almost singlehandedly destroying our governments (Federal and State) by having Republicans swear allegiance to his anti-tax pledge over the US Constitution. http://www.freep.com/...
Where was Maroun when the Republicans in Michigan increased pension taxes on seniors? When Republicans cut budgets for social services that impacted teachers, cops, firefighters, EMT’s? Maroun was in full support of the attacks on the working class. The second point I’d like to make here is that we, citizens of Michigan, are paying no money for this bridge and plaza.
“Under the agreement:
• Michigan is not obligated to pay any of the NITC’s costs and no state appropriation is required.
• Canada’s expenditure of $550 million will be eligible as U.S. federal matching funds for use on highway projects across Michigan.
• No tolls will be charged in Michigan for use of the bridge. Canada will charge tolls, which will be used to reimburse the Canadian government for the funds it advances related to the NITC and for its annual availability payments to the concessionaire.
• The Canadian government will pay all costs of the required land acquisition in Canada and Michigan. It also will pay to construct an interchange to connect the NITC to I-75.”
Link here—
http://www.michigan.gov/...
And, if you really have the time, full deal is here—
http://www.michigan.gov/...
So, this is what we have in a nutshell—
1) Canada is paying the full cost for the proposed new International Bridge. Michigan is paying none.
2) A billionaire who will have competition is spending millions in lies on TV & Radio so he can have a monopoly and make billions.
3) Maroun is connected with anti-union Koch Brothers and Americans for Prosperity and claim they are “protecting our union jobs” which has no basis in reality.
4) Voting No on 6 will create construction and other good paying union jobs here in Michigan.
5) If you are in a union or a union supporter and vote Yes on 6, you are supporting an anti-union billionaire at your own peril.