An idea proposed by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to make the city of Detroit tax-free for 10 years is open to at least two of the region's highest leaders.

Gingrich asked the audience at the 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference to pretend Detroit "was like Puerto Rico," a notion that has been mostly well-received.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Wayne County Robert Ficano told WJR's Paul W. Smith they would like to hear more, but it would take time if the decision were to be pursued.

"That is thinking out the box. There's a legislative standpoint you have to think of," Bing said. "We want to take care of people that are new to Detroit, but my concern is for people that are already there. You've got to do it with fairness the best you can," he said.

But, Bing added, "We've got a lot of land, we've got a lot of homestead. We want to look at that. I think it's a good idea."
http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi..._county_e.html

Thoughts?