Though the U.S. and Canada have continued to move forward with plans to construct the New International Trade Crossing—coloquially known as the new bridge to Canada—voters will decide if residents should have the final say on it.
Opponents of the new bridge, led by Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel Moroun, spent millions to get the proposal on the ballot, aimed to put the bridge's future in voters' hands.
Supporters of the bridge, including Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, say it will be a boon for international trade, and ease congestion on the Ambassador.
According to HuffPost Detroit, the new bridge would cost about $1 billion, and would create 10,000 temporary construction jobs. Canada has agreed to foot $550 million of the bill, hoping to recoup it in toll costs.
Here's the language voters will see on the Nov. 6 ballot for the bridge proposal:
A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding construction of international bridges and tunnels
This proposal would:
- Require the approval of a majority of voters at a statewide election and in each municipality where "new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles" are to be located before the State of Michigan may expend state funds or resources for acquiring land, designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing, or promoting new international bridges or tunnels.
- Create a definition of "new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles" that means "any bridge or tunnel which is not open to the public and serving traffic as of January 1, 2012.
Should this proposal be approved?
A yes vote would require voter approval before the new bridge to Canada—or any other international crossing—could be built.
A no vote would allow elected officials to pursue a new crossing.
Ok you pack of panhandling do nothing legislators.... We're ready for your next stupid question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuQj5yf4gVA I am voting NO on prop.6
Proposal 6: International Bridges and Tunnels. VOTE NO. Megalomanic Moroun spent almost $5 million to deceive enough voters into signing petitions to support this obscene turkey of an amendment. Basically, it says that there has to be a statewide election before the state could spend a penny for "designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing or promoting new international bridges and tunnels." Plus it would apply ex post facto to any bridge not open as of last January. The whole point is to prevent anything from ever threatening the 85-year-old billionaire's monopoly. Never mind that this would doom the rest of the state to economic paralysis. I doubt that there has ever been a citizen who has had a more malignant effect on this state than Matty Moroun. More importantly, this amendment would be bad for everyone except one man, his wife and his son. The price of freedom is, indeed, eternal vigilance. That's why studying these amendments, voting on them, and stopping attempts to steal our lives is so damn important." by Jack Lessenberry
Three Republican state Senators KILLED the NITC proposal in committee in 2011, preventing an Up-or-down vote. The GOP House and Senate THWARTED their own Governor -- with Democrats united in favor of the NITC but unable to change the outcome. During the Granholm years, obstructing the second bridge was always near the top of former GOP Sen. Mike Bishop's agenda, because Granholm and the Democrats wanted it while Matty Moroun was paying good money to keep the GOP in lockstep opposition. If you don't much care about the Odious Billionaire Manuel "Matty" Moroun, then Vote NO on 6. Because, as I point out in my Blog post (http://northville.patch.com/blog_posts/the-pog-blog-vote-no-on-proposal-6-the-devils-in-the-details )...it's a trap that would prevent a second bridge or new tunnel from EVER being built.
http://northville.patch.com/blog_posts/the-pog-blog-vote-no-on-proposal-6-the-devils-in-the-details
Then, when the State of Michigan negotiated a contract with Moroun to improve bridge access, reduce wait times and reduce the diesel fumes in the neighborhood from all those idling trucks -- Moroun dragged his feet, then bult part of the project (using TAXPAYER DOLLARS and FEDERAL/STATE MATCHING FUNDS) in direct violation of the signed contract, forcing trucks to stay on the surface streets as they inched past his duty-free gas station. The state sued, Moroun countersued and started giving even more money to GOP legislators to put pressure on MDOT to back off. The court fight raged for something like eight years, with Moroun repeatedly losing but flagrantly disobeying court orders to take down his illegal construction and Build the Gateway Project to the original specs, until finally Judge Prentiss Edwards found Moroun and his Dan Stamper in contempt of court and had them jailed. Eventually the contract was voided, and MDOT proceeded to oversee the work themselves. Without Moroun's interference, the Gateway Project was completed in a matter of months. That's what Manuel "Matty" Moroun does, and what he WOULD do if Prop 6 passes and his EXISTING Bridge -- not subject to Prop 6! -- became the only expansion option left.
And as it happens, Wayne County has a Home Rule Charter that makes it a qualifying "municipality" -- so the NITC would need to win voter ballot proposals for the State of Michigan, Wayne County AND the City of Detroit. Depending on how loosely "improvements" are interpreted, it could mean even more communities being forced to vote on the issue.
Del Ray, .... has two steel mills, go to any steel mill town, and see what it looks like.Burns Harbor, Indy Harbor, Middle Town OHIO, just two miles off of 75, mid way between dayton. and Cinn., most of you don't even know it is there. Del Ray, Great lakes steel, Cement plants (pluro from the past) stone ports, salt co's, more then the salt mines, they have the YOUR WATER plant, ware house district. Marathon OIL, all surrounding, the Rouge river, and the CUT that ford dug out so ships can move straight in to fords factory and steel mill............. so don't blame a conspiracy on private people, that whole corridor, is was for the processes we didn't want in our back yard. Slaughter houses, constant running of refridg. trucks at produce ware houses............... ir goes on and on.
why aren't ppl all over Illitch? he gets things done b4 you know it, out of your sight? or the Ford's, It seems this Marty guy provides as many jobs to us as Ford does in Michigan......... It is hard to find the History of the Ambas bridge but it is there....... dig deep
The adgents for the border patrol etc. can have a slow down any time, that does not mean work slower, but more thoroughly with more questions searches etc. Does not mean there is more TRAFFIC, I knew a canadian who worked over here his whole life, 6 some times 7 days a week he would traverse, some times he would be running other times he was already thru his breakfast, "they must be looking for a crook" they were asking 50 questions........... most of the time I get waved right thru, that was back in the 60's so back ups are most times for cars, Man made.....not indicative of monstrous traffic...... just a mind jogger
My Two Cents -- Posted on November 3, 2012 at 10:17pm Proposal 6: "International Bridges and Tunnels. VOTE NO. Megalomanic Moroun spent almost $5 million to deceive enough voters into signing petitions to support this obscene turkey of an amendment. Basically, it says that there has to be a statewide election before the state could spend a penny for 'designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing or promoting new international bridges and tunnels.' Plus it would apply ex post facto to any bridge not open as of last January. The whole point is to prevent anything from ever threatening the 85-year-old billionaire's monopoly. This amendment would be bad for everyone except one man, his wife and his son. The price of freedom is, indeed, eternal vigilance." Jack Lessenberry -- Jack I'm with you 100%.
Maroun could buy off the state reps easy enough to block passage while Granholm was gov, but Snyder is looking out for the State of Michigan, and Marty can't buy his decision away like he did others in the past. Common sense tells us that trade with Canada is a good thing, and a new bridge downriver will do exactly that, increase trade and business in Michigan, and bring new jobs along with it. Why not add a rail line to the new bridge as well.? Snyder was brave enough to say it won't cost Michigan money, let's see him keep that promise. Of course, Obama made promises too, but at least Snyder has gotten Michigan on the right economic track, from billions in debt to a surplus, from a mess of SBT to something that attracts businesses and jobs to MI again. Snyder is a businessman, Obama was not. Result? USA trillions in debt. What is Romney? Many things to many folk, but all agree he is smart in business. He will figure out a way to make sure Canada pays for everything.....
Don't be fooled, Vote NO on Proposal 6 tomorrow.
Read up and make an informed decision, whichever way you vote!