Bishop rejects funding for "Pure Michigan"

Never mind that tourism is one of the three largest income-producing industries in Michigan, or that the return on the Pure Michigan ad campaign is $3-$5 in tourism revenue on every dollar spent. Senator Mike Bishop doesn’t have time to be concerned about tourism. The legislature just last week approved $9.5 million to fund the Pure Michigan ads this summer, but Senate Republicans, lead by Bishop, rejected legislation that would have raised an additional $13 million for the ad campaign through a $2.50 per day tax on airport rental cars. Bishop said that with the state facing a huge deficit, $9.5 million was all that could be afforded. Unfortunately, that appears to be a decision Senator Bishop made on his own, since he never even allowed the rental-car tax legislation to be voted on by his fellow lawmakers.

Senator Bishop, how can we begin to erase the deficit if you suppress revenue-generating measures? The total amount dedicated to the Pure Michigan ad campaign this year is $15 million, less than half the amount raised last year, and not enough to launch another nationwide ad campaign. Michigan’s incredible natural resources are what draw people back to our state year after year, and we NEED lawmakers who will promote and protect these amazing assets!