Bridge facing hurdles in Michigan Senate

**kraig** · October-12-11, 06:28 AM

http://detnews.com/article/20111012/...ichigan-Senate

Very interesting read.

**cramerro** · October-12-11, 08:23 AM

This episode in Michigan politics is perhaps the most enraging in my life that I've had an opinion about. I understand there can be some hesitancy that the $500M from Canada and the Federal funds it will help us pay and the whole "no cost to taxpayers" is not an arrangement to be rubber-stamped or otherwise taken lightly.

However, as someone with some knowledge of State and Federal funding, I can say that the 'threat' of Michigan having to turn away a substantial portion of Federal funds that requires a State match is very real. Different schemes [["Toll Credits" in lieu of cash match for those of you who know what that is) have allowed MDOT to get by these last few years hanging by a thread, but you can get a better picture of the years to come by connecting the dots when these short-term band-aids aren't enough to weather what could be a decade-long recession [[at least as far as revenue goes).

The part that makes me MOST upset is Morun. How ANYONE [[let alone everyone) has so quicky forgotten that Mr Morun still hasn't completed his relatively minor part of Michigan's single most expensive highway project ever, is beside me. Here he is, paying millions for commercials showing how Michigan roads are in such a state of disrepair [[he also shows a snapshot of Vernor Hwy going under the nasty railroad bridge next to his MCS, which has fresh pavement but a nasty, abandoned train depot above it), but obviously doesn't value public funds when he's allowed million dollar highway bridges connecting to his bridge facility to go unused for years now. Nearly $1 Billion was spent to re-do the whole I-75/I-96/Bridge interchange, including the pedestrian bridge, countless hours of congestion and headache for commuters and commerce, and all for [[so far) nothing more than new concrete on the same old roadway.

If I had any sum of money, I'd mount a counter-campaign to his bogus TV commercials that are scaring any sort of independent, rational thinking capabilities out of our state representatives. Michigan is in dire straights, and even though this bridge has some level of risk, the upsides [[potential and certain) make this a no-brainer. Everyone supports this, even business groups, Engler, and everyone else other than those who might have thier campaign check from Morun withdrawn or re-routed to their next competitor. Stop the madness!!!

**kraig** · October-12-11, 08:28 AM

Here's the free press' article.

http://www.freep.com/article/2011101...xt|FRONTPAGE|p

**Novine** · October-12-11, 08:29 AM

Who is surprised by this? Kowall and Company have had their campaign coffers fattened up by the Maroun Family and Friends Fund. Kowall has been holding these sham hearings to make it appear as if they were giving this serious consideration when the majority of Republicans have been opposed to this since day one. It's another example of how Lansing Republicans look out for one constituency, their wealthy connected contributors.

**Novine** · October-12-11, 08:31 AM

"If I had any sum of money, I'd mount a counter-campaign to his bogus TV commercials that are scaring any sort of independent, rational thinking capabilities out of our state representatives."

That would be a waste of your money. The TV commercials are nothing but a distracting noise. The only sound that the Lansing politicians can hear is the sound of your campaign contributions clinking into their campaign accounts.

**cramerro** · October-12-11, 08:38 AM

I'm certainly not surprised, only reminded again of this whole boodoggle.

Re: commercials: True, but I'd feel good about a counter campaign.

Picture me, driving my Buick up to the edge of one of the uncompleted bridges, waiting, with a helicopter shot pulling out from my face way out to show his bridge and the 3 mile backup of trucks on I-75. I'd be smiling for at least a few hours after watching that commercial air. :-)

**kraig** · October-12-11, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

Who is surprised by this? Kowall and Company have had their campaign coffers fattened up by the Maroun Family and Friends Fund. Kowall has been holding these sham hearings to make it appear as if they were giving this serious consideration when the majority of Republicans have been opposed to this since day one. It's another example of how Lansing Republicans look out for one constituency, their wealthy connected contributors.

And the DRIC held sham hearings, studies and everything else to have people believe that other proposals were being considered when they knew the whole time that this was going to be an M-DOT, Canadian Government and Federal Government project. Thus allowing Maroun plenty of time to come up with a way to block them. Had they dealt straight up from the beginning, construction could be going on this side of the river by now. They delayed themselves a good four years.

**Novine** · October-12-11, 08:42 AM

Like there's any similarity between state officials going through the public hearings required of a project of this nature, no matter what option they prefer, and the sham hearings done by elected politicians who are doing the bidding of Maroun.

**kraig** · October-12-11, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

Like there's any similarity between state officials going through the public hearings required of a project of this nature, no matter what option they prefer, and the sham hearings done by elected politicians who are doing the bidding of Maroun.

Holding hearings to hear proposals that you know you're going to reject because you have something else in mind. But you hold them anyway to pretend that you're giving the proposer a fair shake.

Hmmmmnnnnn, seeing as how both parties did this. I would have to say that their actions are similar.

**Novine** · October-12-11, 09:02 AM

Keep playing dumb this morning kraig. You know that the state and feds have to consider all options, even if they have a preferred alternative. No one forced the Lansing politicians to hold their sham hearings. Plenty of legislative proposals never see the light of day. But Kowall went through the motions so they could pretend they were giving Snyder's proposal some consideration when it was actually decided by Maroun's campaign contributions.

**kraig** · October-12-11, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

Keep playing dumb this morning kraig. You know that the state and feds have to consider all options, even if they have a preferred alternative. No one forced the Lansing politicians to hold their sham hearings. Plenty of legislative proposals never see the light of day. But Kowall went through the motions so they could pretend they were giving Snyder's proposal some consideration when it was actually decided by Maroun's campaign contributions.

I wouldn't call recognizing BS by both parties playing dumb. If anything I'm being fair and objective. Canada was looking to have the bridge connect directly to the highway. So any request for proposals should have been for plans that would meet that criteria. But, because they wanted to have a reason to reject Maroun's plans which had been tentatively approved by all parties before the DRIC was ever a thought, they went through the motions. And by doing so they ended up delaying themselves, by not only allowing Maroun time to block them, but, they also had to give equal time to idiotic proposals ,such as, the proposal to put the bridge on Belle Isle..

If they have their own proposal, there is no requirement to request others. All they needed to do was present their proposal, since they knew what they wanted the entire time, and hold the hearings on that. Which would have saved them plenty of time. Oh, but then the Corrigan Group, which made about 40 million off of this "Study" alone and has also spent money on campaign contributions, wouldn't have made as much money.

Coincidentally, the Corrigan Group also had contracts with guys by the name of Blanchard and Mulhern. Does anyone know who they might be? hint,hint wink,wink

**Wesley Mouch** · October-12-11, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by kraig

I wouldn't call recognizing BS by both parties playing dumb. If anything I'm being fair and objective. Canada was looking to have the bridge connect directly to the highway. So any request for proposals should have been for plans that would meet that criteria. ...

Kraig, Ya don't think the reason Matty's bridge was included in the study might only have been because of his politically engaged wallet? You can almost hear the pockets crying "We know it won't fly, but you must include Matty's bridge. He's such a great guy".

**kraig** · October-12-11, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

Kraig, Ya don't think the reason Matty's bridge was included in the study might only have been because of his politically engaged wallet? You can almost hear the pockets crying "We know it won't fly, but you must include Matty's bridge. He's such a great guy".

At that time Matty's bridge was tentatively approved. Therefore, the Corrigan Group, the initial driving force behind the DRIC, would not have been able to make a dime. The study was done to eliminate any other possibilities [[Maroun, rail tunnels, etc.). Had Matty had his way at the time, there would never have been a DRIC study, of any type, in the first place. I think we can all agree on that one.

**Danny** · October-12-11, 10:36 AM

So we the State of Michigan wants a new bridge because Marty "The Maroon!" is controlling the heavy flow if truck traffic from Detroit to Canada and from Canada to Detroit. In the meantime our local bridges and road are quickly crumbling in a alarming rate. Let's get the bridge problem off the bureacratic desks and start building it by using Marty " the Maroon's" tax money. He may not like it, but it going help get the funding we need for a new bridge and fix our local bridges and roads.

**Downriviera** · October-12-11, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

"If I had any sum of money, I'd mount a counter-campaign to his bogus TV commercials that are scaring any sort of independent, rational thinking capabilities out of our state representatives."

That would be a waste of your money. The TV commercials are nothing but a distracting noise. The only sound that the Lansing politicians can hear is the sound of your campaign contributions clinking into their campaign accounts.

To run a counter commercial would obviously be cost prohibitive. But it would be nice to see someone shoot a video and put it on youtube. It would go viral and have a much bigger impact than a tv spot. Something like the Pure Michigan spoofs.

**kraig** · October-12-11, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

To run a counter commercial would obviously be cost prohibitive. But it would be nice to see someone shoot a video and put it on youtube. It would go viral and have a much bigger impact than a tv spot. Something like the Pure Michigan spoofs.

Just word search youtube. There are plenty of anti-Matty videos.

**Gistok** · October-12-11, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by cramerro

The part that makes me MOST upset is Morun. How ANYONE [[let alone everyone) has so quicky forgotten that Mr Morun still hasn't completed his relatively minor part of Michigan's single most expensive highway project ever, is beside me. Here he is, paying millions for commercials showing how Michigan roads are in such a state of disrepair [[he also shows a snapshot of Vernor Hwy going under the nasty railroad bridge next to his MCS, which has fresh pavement but a nasty, abandoned train depot above it), but obviously doesn't value public funds when he's allowed million dollar highway bridges connecting to his bridge facility to go unused for years now. Nearly $1 Billion was spent to re-do the whole I-75/I-96/Bridge interchange, including the pedestrian bridge, countless hours of congestion and headache for commuters and commerce, and all for [[so far) nothing more than new concrete on the same old roadway.

OK... where did you come up with your $1 billion dollar figure?? Best source I could find lists the Gateway project at $230 million. And "nasty abandoned train depot?? It is getting attention... so that it won't be so nasty...

The entire rebuild of the Ford Fwy. between Conner and I-96 was has been estimated at $1.1 billion... and that's way more work than the gateway project...

Not trying to diss you... just trying to stay with the facts...

**Downriviera** · October-12-11, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by kraig

Just word search youtube. There are plenty of anti-Matty videos.

I've seen some of those, but I'm thinking of something a bit more ambitious. Something done by a film maker that really exposes Maroun.

**cramerro** · October-13-11, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

OK... where did you come up with your $1 billion dollar figure?? Best source I could find lists the Gateway project at $230 million. And "nasty abandoned train depot?? It is getting attention... so that it won't be so nasty...

The entire rebuild of the Ford Fwy. between Conner and I-96 was has been estimated at $1.1 billion... and that's way more work than the gateway project...

Not trying to diss you... just trying to stay with the facts...

OK, I really thought it was billed as the largest single construction project, I obviously got some things crossed up in my head. $230M was the cost; still a waste without Matty doing his share. That's the facts, Jack.

The shot from the depot is the underpass from the train sidings behind the actual building. This is not getting attention... and I'm also not sure it is owned by Moroun, but it also isn't even used by trains anymore. It is NOT an example of a critical infrastructure on the verge of failing, just scary 'ruin por n' to keep his bridge as the only game in town.

**Detroitej72** · October-13-11, 08:46 AM

Anybody see the video that the Ypsi tea party is running that tries to imply Snyder is working to have China pay for and control the crossing? Talk about scare tactics at it's finest. With all the misinformation that's being thrown around, I'm sure the average sound bite listening citizen is confused as hell as to which side to believe.

**bailey** · October-13-11, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitej72

Anybody see the video that the Ypsi tea party is running that tries to imply Snyder is working to have China pay for and control the crossing? Talk about scare tactics at it's finest. With all the misinformation that's being thrown around, I'm sure the average sound bite listening citizen is confused as hell as to which side to believe.

...and too lazy to figure it out for themselves. Everyone complains every election cycle about negative and misleading ads...and yet every election they are proven to be the most effective tools. We're a dumb society that gets the leaders and policies it deserves. Dric..or whatever it's being called now... is dead. move on.

**kraig** · October-13-11, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

...and too lazy to figure it out for themselves. Everyone complains every election cycle about negative and misleading ads...and yet every election they are proven to be the most effective tools. We're a dumb society that gets the leaders and policies it deserves. Dric..or whatever it's being called now... is dead. move on.

The DRIC is dead? Not hardly, the Corrigan Group and the AECOM have been spending just as much money, if not more, as Moroun. As long as the politicians realize that there's money to be made off of this fight, they'll keep the fight going.

**bailey** · October-13-11, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by kraig

The DRIC is dead? Not hardly, the Corrigan Group and the AECOM have been spending just as much money, if not more, as Moroun. As long as the politicians realize that there's money to be made off of this fight, they'll keep the fight going.

Ok.. i'll qualify it to agree with you in that whomever is able to the buy the most legislators wins...
however, I think the corrigan group has to work doubly hard and spend way more money because Matty has already occupied the teabaggerist/"reagan democrat" "high ground". he's using every dog whistle in the play book: big government boondoggle, private industry will do it better, It's Socialism![[tm), China will finance it and/or build it, Canada is going to screw us out of the money promised, de tuk r jobs!, it'll cost 10x what the estimates are and we'll all have to pay for it....etc.

**kraig** · October-13-11, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

Ok.. i'll qualify it to agree with you in that whomever is able to the buy the most legislators wins...
however, I think the corrigan group has to work doubly hard and spend way more money because Matty has already occupied the teabaggerist/"reagan democrat" "high ground". he's using every dog whistle in the play book: big government boondoggle, private industry will do it better, It's Socialism![[tm), China will finance it and/or build it, Canada is going to screw us out of the money promised, de tuk r jobs!, it'll cost 10x what the estimates are and we'll all have to pay for it....etc.

Believe it or not, I think the Corrigan group underestimated Moroun and put too much faith into professional Rainmakers like Blanchard, Mulhern, Tom Shields and the Detroit Regional Chamber. The plan has been for Corrigan and AECOM to stay under the radar and pretty much get awarded contracts that have the pretense of looking competitive. It's been up to the paid consultants [[rainmakers) to deliver the votes. What they didn't realize is that a former governor [[Blanchard) who's been out of office for 20 years has zero juice with a majority republican senate. And his being a former ambassador to Canada doesn't bring anything to the table with Canada being fully onboard. Getting Mulhern actually worked against them because Granholm couldn't fight to hard for the DRIC without exposing the fact that her husband had a very questionable contract with the company that had a no bid contract for the project. Especially considering all of the corruption with Kwame was gong on at the same time. And the Regional Chamber pretty much does nothing but collect money from its members without providing any service.

On the flip side, all of the consultants for Moroun were given specific tasks to deliver on and that's what they seem to have done. They were requested to provide tangible things such as commercials, literature and strategies of attack. And they seemed to have done a good job at it.

Look for the Corrigan Group and AECOM to regroup and take more direct action by putting their own field general in place. This is one of the reasons why Snyder is in the process of creating his own Pac/Civic Fund/Non-Profit to receive funds to actively campaign on behalf of the DRIC. While the Corrigan Group and AECOM can't provide funds to MDOT, they can provide them to Snyder's fund[[s).