Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on June 3, 2009, to authorize spending $9.5 million on tourism industry subsidies in the form of state ads paid for with use tax dollars. The money would otherwise go into the state general fund and be available for other state spending. Previous tourism subsidies have been paid for with long term borrowing, pledging future tobacco lawsuit revenue to repay the debt

The vote was 37 in favor, 1 opposed and 0 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 72 at Senate Journal 0)

Click here to view bill details.

I suppose real revenue is better than borrowing from the future.  The real question though, is why.  Why is our cash strapped state spending money to promote an industry?  What is next, state funded commercials for Kelloggs and GM?

 Earmarks, earmarks, earmarks!  "Certain Tax Revenue" should be used to pay down the state's debt.