By Joel Thurtell

Well, now it must be official: The Detroit Free Press reports that Gov. Rick Snyder is mulling whether to build a new bridge between the U.S. and Canada without the Legislature’s approval.

Isn’t bypassing the Legislature just what I urged the governor to do a month ago?

Why, yes, I believe it is.

Here’s the column I posted last month:

By Joel Thurtell

Three of Matty Moroun’s Republican hirelings in the state Senate vote against a new bridge to Canada.

Two Republicans vote in favor.

Two Democrats refuse to vote.

Thus, on the votes or non-votes of seven people, an important piece of state infrastructure will not be built?

One family — the Morouns — spending millions on advertisements and bribes — excuse me, legal contributions to elected legislators — gets its way, in spite of polls that show a majority of voters in favor of a new bridge.

This is Democracy in Michigan.

Now, people are calling on Gov. Rick Snyder not to “go around the Legislature” and build the bridge anyway.

Wait a minute!

The Legislature in toto never voted on this issue.

The people, through their elected representatives, never got to see a real vote.

There could have been a vote, but through weakness, laziness, stupidity and avarice, the legislators chose to sit out their chance to vote the bridge up or down.

One committee of seven people is not a vote on the bridge.

The Legislature voted itself out of the equation.

The governor is entitled, therefore, to seek ways of building the bridge without the Legislature’s approval.

They had their chance.

They blew it.

If the governor by executive order can start digging the foundation, do it.

If it’s not possible for Michigan to take part without the Legislature on board, then let’s ask the federal government to partner with Canada and get the job done.

If the new bridge at the Rouge River can’t be built, here’s another proposal.

You’ve heard this from me before: The feds and the state have the power to seize Matty’s bridge.

Now, Matty has blustered and the mainstream media have bought his lie that he will build a “twin” to his decrepit Ambassador Bridge.

Well, as I have said so many times before, Matty can’t build that bridge because he doesn’t own the land he needs for it. That land belongs to the city of Detroit. It is called Riverside Park.

I’m not saying the federal government or the state of Michigan should by gubernatorial fiat build Matty’s twin. No, forget the twin. It’s nothing but hot air, a bluff.

And leave Riverside Park alone.

No, here’s what I say: Seize the Ambasador Bridge through the government’s power of eminent domain.

Tear the piece of crap down and build a new bridge in its place.

Oh, sure, I would fairly compensate Matty.

With a kick in the ass.

But the best shot would be to forget the Ambassador. Build the New International Trade Crossing bridge despite legislative obstinacy.

The advantage to going ahead without the Legislature is that never again would the bridge be held up by Matty’s hired politicos in Lansing.

The Legislature now is out of the picture, through their own nearsighted behavior.

On with the bridge.

And screw Matty Moroun.