By Joel Thurtell
Pinch me.
Is this real?
My wife and I are on the road. We’re staying in Pennsylvania tonight. After dinner, we went to a hilarious movie. While watching “Little Fockers,” my cell phone began to buzz.
I didn’t take that call. My pocket vibrated again as we were walking into the motel.
I grabbed the phone and listened.
Amazing.
Our new governor, Rick Snyder, is for the DRIC. In his State of the State speech, not only did he come out for it, but he’s put action ahead of words. He’s already been to Washington, D.C. and worked out a deal with the feds to match with federal highway funds the $550 million the Canadians offered to lend Michigan towards bridge construction.
No comment from Matty Moroun, the billionaire owner of the Ambassador Bridge who tossed more than half a million of contributions at Michigan legislators, expecting them to kill the government bridge, leaving him with the monopoly he now has with his decrepit 1929 span.
Last year, Republicans killed the DRIC in the state Senate.
They seemed ready to stifle it again.
Snyder is a Republican.
The last governor was for the bridge, too. But Jennifer Granholm is a Democrat.
The same political party that stymied the bridge now has a governor who’s in favor of it.
Not just in favor, but actually went to Washington and worked out details that can make this project happen.
I believe the governor when he says he believes workers all over the state will benefit from this project.
At last we have a leader willing to stand up and say that the wishes of one selfish billionaire should not hold the state back from the economic development we need.
Thank you, Gov. Snyder.
Wonderful, startling, welcome surprise. Thank you, Governor
Rick Snyder, and all of the people who helped you do the right thing. Longtime Michigan resident who now lives where it’s often warm but remembers Michigan with great joy; politics in that state helped make me who I am today. (Voted for Obama.) Michigan’s lucky to have you, and I wish you great luck, sir.
Best regards, Catharine S. Rambeau
I was so hesitant to vote for Snyder, but I felt he was the best choice and SO FAR he has not disappointed me, especially after this news. Even though I vote based on who I think the best candidate is, I’ve always voted Democrat.
I’m hoping this is a good change for Michigan.
I don’t understand what drives Matty Maroun. He’s 83 years old, worth 1.5 billion and he still wants more. I propose a new definition for greed. If a man can retire and live the rest of his life on more than $200,000 per day; that’s pure greed.
I was rooting for Rick Snyder and am glad that he won… he’s already proven to be the best person for the job in my eyes.
A proud Canadian and happy neighbour to our friends to the north (I’m in Windsor Ontario)
Hopefully we can snap MM out of his trance that he is in to start spending money and take care of his companies. I can’t wait for the economy to get better so MM can see what he has done to his people that work for him…Can you say See ya CT!!!!