2008 House Bill 5865 / Public Act 100

Authorize new debt for tourism industry subsidies

Introduced in the House

March 6, 2008

Introduced by Rep. Kate Ebli (D-56)

To appropriate $60 million of the money borrowed and placed in the “<a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2005-HB-5047">21st Century Jobs Fund</a>” for tourism industry promotion subsidies. See House Bills 5866 and 5867, which authorize new debt and refinancing existing debt for this purpose.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

March 11, 2008

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

March 18, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-90)

To ban the use of this money for tourism promotion ads that use the image of a candidate for state or federal office.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Moore (R-97)

To require that $1 million of this money be used to promote Michigan-based sporting goods retailers that have been established for at least 25 years (such as Jay's Sporting Goods, which is located in the amendment sponsor's district, but not Cabela's, which reportedly was attracted to the state in part by a different government business-subsidy program).

The amendment failed 49 to 59 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R-74)

To prohibit using this borrowed money to for employees compensation in the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the agency responsible for disbursing these tourism subsidies.

The amendment passed 102 to 6 (details)

Passed in the House 94 to 14 (details)

Received in the Senate

March 20, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism

March 27, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

April 16, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

To appropriate $60 million of the money borrowed and placed in the “<a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2005-HB-5047">21st Century Jobs Fund</a>” for tourism industry promotion subsidies. See House Bills 5866 and 5867, which authorize new debt and refinancing existing debt for this purpose.

Received in the House

April 16, 2008

Amendment offered by Rep. Kate Ebli (D-56)

To also allow the state to subsidize the promotion of motor sports-related attractions with the borrowed money.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 91 to 16 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Received in the Senate

April 17, 2008

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which would also allow the state to subsidize the promotion of motor sports-related attractions with the borrowed money.

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

April 18, 2008