BP oil gusher being felt in Michigan

People in the Gulf Coast are experiencing the legacy of the having two oilmen in the White House the last eight years as the massive BP oil gusher off the coast of Louisiana approaches the beaches in the area as people make decisions on where they plan to spend their summer vacations.

BP gave Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida money to help pay for clean up and off set the negative effects of the Gulf oil spill., and Mississippi is using $4 million of its money on TV commercials to attracts tourists to their beaches.

Michigan would be a great place for those tourists to come and visit and spend their money. Tourism in Michigan has been a bright spot in the current recovering economy. In fact, last September the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association released a survey of its members showing 72.9 percent had seen an increase in out-of-state visitors coming to their facilities over the summer compared to the summer of 2008.

Those award-winning Pure Michigan ads featuring Tim Allen and Jeff Daniels would be money well spent right now. There is just one problem with that scenario; Senate Republicans voted to end that successful ad campaign. The governor proposed funding the ads with a $2.50 tax on rental cars near airports, a tax paid mostly by out-of-state travelers. But Senate Republicans refused to take up House Bill 5017.

The good news is that a similar oil spill it will never happen in Michigan, but the debate over drilling in the Great Lakes may have an effect in the race for Michigan Attorney General.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer is calling out Republican AG candidate Bill Schuette on his flip-flop on oil drilling in the Great Lakes.
Apparently, Schuette was in favor of it before he was against it.

“Not only did Bill Schuette sponsor and vote for legislation that allowed oil drilling, but then he says he flip-flopped on the issue for political gain,” Brewer said. “The voters in Michigan deserve better. Voters can’t trust a candidate who flip-flops on oil drilling.”

As a State Senator, Schuette sponsored Senate Bill 214 on Feb. 14, 2001 that would allow slant oil drilling under the Great Lakes. However, he voted for House Bill 5081 almost a year later on Feb. 13 that would ban slant oil drilling. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 28-5 and the House by a vote of 98-8. It became law in April of that year after then Gov. John Engler declined to sign it or veto it.

“We need an attorney general who will work to solve problems on behalf of Michigan residents, not work for special interests like Big Oil,” Brewer said. “Bill Schuette has been a politician for 25 years in both Lansing and Washington and his record speaks for itself – he supported oil drilling in the Great Lakes.”

Killing the Pure Michigan ads kills a great opportunity for Michigan tourism

The explosion on the BP oil rig and the massive oil gusher off the coast of Louisiana is hurting tourism in the area.

According to the New York Times, bookings for tourist excursions of the Gulf Coast of Florida and other Gulf of Mexico states is down because of concerns over the massive oil slick reaching beaches there and fishing areas. This is despite, to date, the beaches are clean and unaffected.

If those tourists are looking to go to clean beaches and great fishing spots that are in no danger at all of a massive oil slick they should consider Michigan. Michigan has more freshwater shoreline than any other state in the Union.

The fact is that, in our current bleak but improving economy, tourism has been one of the bright spots, and that has been borne out by the success of the Pure Michigan ads. In fact, in September the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association released a survey of its members showing 72.9 percent had seen an increase in out-of-state visitors coming to their facilities over the summer compared to the summer of 2008.

Wouldn’t it be great if those great ads featuring Tim Allen and Jeff Daniels ran in other states, so that people can see our beautiful beaches and spend the money there were going to spend in Florida in one of the Great Lakes shoreline towns? There is just one problem with that; Senate Republicans voted to end that successful ad campaign. Not only that, to add insult to injury, they cut 51 percent in the money to maintain the state’s welcome centers.

The governor proposed funding the ads with a $2.50 tax on rental cars near airports, a tax paid mostly by out-of-state travelers. But Senate Republicans refused to take up House Bill 5017 because any taxes are bad.

Another opportunity lost to blind ambition and ideology.

Help Michigan with wine tour

In the tight but improving economy, it’s tough to raise money for political campaigns, but the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) has found a unique way to both raise money and benefit one of Michigan’s growing industries.

The MDP is sponsoring its inaugural Wine Tour Excursion on Saturday May 22. You can help raise some much needed cash and highlight and help one of Michigan’s bright and growing industries.

Last September the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association released a survey of its members showing 72.9 percent had seen an increase in out-of-state visitors coming to their facilities over the summer compared to the summer of 2008. Michigan’s wineries are one reason for that up-tick in tourism, along with the Pure Michigan ads.

The MDP Wine Tour Excursion will explore the beauty of spring flowers and fine wine in breathtaking Leelanau Peninsula. The tour begins at Black Star Farms with a private reception. The tour continues with a relaxing and scenic ride through the countryside and a tour of some of the best wineries in Leelanau: Black Star, Ciccone's, Shady Lane and L. Mawby. Each winery is a unique experience brimming with rich history, local treats and special treasures.

Space for this event is extremely limited, so visit the web site for reservations and ticket prices.

Newspaper carrying water for rightwing think tank

The rightwing think tank the “Mackinac Center for Public Policy” began a bi-monthly newspaper called “Capitol Confidential” back in 2008, and it now appears it has a new daily newspaper called the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

In its mad dash to the right, the Press & Argus has been carrying water for the rightwing think tank, and today the paper helped the Mackinac Center out on its mission to kill the successful and award-winning Pure Michigan ad campaign to increase tourism in the state.

In a bleak economy, tourism has been one of the bright spots, and that has been borne out by the success of the Pure Michigan ads. In fact, in September the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association released a survey of its members showing 72.9 percent had seen an increase in out-of-state visitors coming to their facilities over the summer compared to the summer of 2008.

A study conducted by the respected Toronto-based Longwoods International has demonstrated that the Pure Michigan campaign has helped significantly boost tourism spending in the state.

“According toe the newspaper, “preliminary results of the study were made available just after the governor's address, the full study will not be available for a month,” and the Mackinac Center is basically calling them a liar by saying they cannot verify the data.

Not only have the ads won awards, they have the support on both sides of the aisle. According to subscription only Gongwers, Republican “Attorney General Mike Cox, one of the favorites to become the next governor, has said the ad campaign has worked. Even Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi,” supports it.

The Advertising campaign for the winter has already been canceled, and the fall ads are also in danger. House Bill 5017 would assess a $2.50 fee on cars rented near airports to fund the ad campaign. That’s what the Mackinac Center and its ally the Press & Argus are fighting.