Whitmer signs into law a bill which takes one billion dollars from Michigan's General Fund to promote Michigan Megasites.

How did we get here?
The idea of the Michigan Megasite has been brewing for over a decade but the idea got more steam a year ago (December 21) when Governor Whitmer signed into a law a bill which appropriated ONE BILLION dollars from Michigan's general fund to be put into a fund to promote economic development in Michigan. Specifically it called for making Michigan shovel ready for development.   But one has to wonder where the money is going.  Things get even less transparent when many legislators AND land owners are made to sign nondisclosure agreements. 

It is understandable that legislators would be barred from talking to third parties regarding possible land deals as they could use this information to capitalize on this knowledge. (Much like insider trading) However the nondisclosure agreements which land owners are being asked to sign, creates a system which is ripe for abuse.  Especially since local entities (such as the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance) are not impartial actors.   

One billion dollars is an enormous amount of money to take from Michigan's general fund for the purpose of enticing big industry to our state.   What exactly is that enticement?  It's hard to see any evidence of this as, unlike other states, Michigan has not put any infrastructure into their "Mega Sites" as have other states.  Below is a video that they made last year. 

Instead of using this ONE BILLION dollars toward our state's terrible infrastructure, lagging school system, poorly funded police departments, etc. the Whitmer administration is spending it on more corporate enticements (corporate welfare) at the expense of Michigan residents.  And non of it is transparent!!    

You can  read more about the State of Michigan's appropriation of funds at the Detroit Free Press