"Passage of my bill, HB4491, would give disappointed riders an excellent, low-cost (and no-cost-to-taxpayers) alternative to getting to work, home and play.  Detroit and most other major cities in Michigan and the United States ban the jitney - such ban a relic of government owned streetcar days and many believe its continuation an achievement of public transportation and taxi special interests."

Last year, former Wayne County administrator and award-winning journalist, Bill Johnson wrote an article titled "Liberate jitneys." Discussing McMillin's 2012 version and saying that -

"Smarter, more sensible "jitney freedom" legislation was recently introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills. House Bill No. 5724 defines jitney as "a privately owned, shared ride service using a vehicle that is capable of carrying up to 12 passengers, traveling a semifixed route at least once per week."  Municipalities would be banned from limiting their operation except to ensure the safety of passengers, such as requiring the purchase of a franchise or surety bond."

The National Center for Policy Analysis wrote a 2011 paper entitled, "The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor" stating that if prohibitions on jitneys were lifted (as McMillin's bill does), "jitney markets would be able to operate legally and would significantly improve the welfare of America's poor."  The article also gives excellent background on the history and [faulty] reasons that jitneys are outlawed.

As usual Tom is right, and anyone looking at his legislation (HB4491 has tri-partisan support and can be viewed here) could recognize a little loosening of the chokehold big government is a good thing for local Detroit prosperity and affordable transportation choices for those seeking reliable transportation.