Consul General of Canada Roy Norton also promoted the New International Trade Crossing when he spoke to the summit on Monday. Canadian officials are so confident the bridge will be built that construction has begun on a road that would link to it. Canada has pledged to cover Michigan's $550 million share to build a plaza on the U.S. side of the bridge, eventually recouping the money from tolls.

Snyder echoed that confidence at a news conference later Tuesday.

"I'm convinced that we're going to make positive progress, we'll get something done," he said. "I look forward to building the bridge."

As part of Michigan's broader ties with its Canadian neighbor, Snyder would like to see passenger rail service between Pontiac, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit, to Montreal in Quebec, Canada.

He also wants the Detroit Region Aerotropolis to help expand trade along the North American trade corridor stretching into Canada, and is actively promoting Michigan and the Great Lakes area as a top value spot to do business.

The GoverNerd doth protest too much, methinks.  Plenty of the Nerds Washtenaw County cronies arses should be puckering right about now too.

Sorry, I guess I'm in a Shakespearean mood this morning.  With that, I part with a courtesy for the Lansing Elected Class...

If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?

What I don't understand is why Matty Maroun is being so thoroughly demonized in this process...has he screwed up the current bridge's operations so badly that the concerned governments and their citizens are in peril by simply venturing onto its steel?  

Why are these governments so intent on spending taxpayer money when they have a private citizen willing to take all the risk?  What long term benefits will the citizens  of Detroit receive if the new bridge is run by just another unresponsive and faceless government bureaucracy?  Where is the confidence in government coming from that makes people believe that bureaucrats can pull this off more efficiently than the private sector?  

If Maroun believes there is a need for the bridge and wants to pay for it...let him build the damn thing.  The worst thing that can happen is that he will run out of money part way through the project--a scenario in which the government can step in and finish the whole project at a discounted price.  

Of course, this is not what interests government.  Government wants to grow in its absolute benevolence and kind authority.  It wants to control every available portion of developing society that it can possibly conquer--particularly if it can do so in the process of redistributing wealth and economic justice.

Again, in my humble opinion, Maroun has proven that he can responsibly operate a bridge.  He has proven the ability to privately employ thousands of people in his private empire.  He has paid millions of dollars in personal and corporate taxes and his thousands of employees have paid millions more in the course of their employment.  Consumers, through the efficiency of Maroun's private operations, have saved countless millions in lower costs.    

During the course of hearings on SB 410, I have conducted the Economic Development Committee in a fair and transparent fashion.

Today's submission of a 38-page substitute literally two minutes prior to the beginning of the hearing runs counter to the spirit of openness of which we've been operating.

It's completely unacceptable to be asked to vote on a new bill without first having the opportunity to read it. Thus, I adjourned today's hearing to give committee members time to review the Hunter substitute.

As chairman of this committee, I will continue to work to preserve a fair and open discussion of this issue. Michigan citizens deserve no less.

The GoverNerd and Richardville sure as hell are reminding me of someone...