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Snyder Says Cutting MEDC Funds for Roads Would Cost Jobs

Governor Rick Snyder - file photo
Mike Lanka
/
WMU University Relations

Governor Rick Snyder (R) used the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Mackinac Island conference to deliver his sternest rebuke yet to a plan hatched by fellow Republicans to divert millions of dollars of economic development funds to roads. 

A sweeping House Republican plan seeks to come up with the better part of a $1.2 billion roads package by tapping into existing revenue sources, including money that funds business incentives and the popular Pure Michigan tourism campaign.

Snyder opposes much of the plan in favor of higher fuel taxes and registration fees, but says he’s willing to negotiate. But he says the uncertainty over the future of the state’s economic development strategy is already hurting.

“To put it in perspective, every time something like that happens, we lose jobs, investment, and opportunity in the state of Michigan,” he told an audience at the conference. “…Good economic development, you have to have a 10-15 year horizon minimum. And I was doing economic development long before I was governor.”

Snyder is a former tech CEO and investor. Hearings on the House plan are to continue next week. House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) was not available to comment following the governor’s remarks.

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