Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on March 19, 2008, to appropriate $50 million of the borrowed money deposited in the “21st Century Jobs Fund” for tourism industry promotion subsidies. See Senate Bills 1224 and 1225, which authorize new debt and refinancing existing debt for this purpose. Also, to locate the “Michigan Promotion Program” tasked with spending the money in the Michigan Strategic Fund. At least 75 percent of the money would have to be spent out of state

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

(Senate Roll Call 219 at Senate Journal 33)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Sheen, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: No Vote on HB 1223 - 1224 My first concern is that we are we taking money from the funding of scholarships which it was intended and must still be funded. This will also create an additional 35 million dollars of debt, which we will have pay on for years to come and does not deal with long term funding problem of tourism. It is another example of a one year short term fix, with long term implications and encumbrances.”