Americans for Prosperity-Michigan

Americans For Prosperity-Michigan Launches Statewide Campaign Against DRIC

District-wide mailings, radio ads, web video call on legislators
to oppose unnecessary, unaffordable Detroit bridge

LANSING, Mich. – Americans For Prosperity-Michigan today announced a statewide campaign
to stop Michigan from plunging $620 million further into debt. The Detroit River International
Crossing (DRIC), a taxpayer funded Detroit bridge which traffic studies show is unwarranted, is
expected to be introduced in the State Senate within a few weeks. State Senators Goeff Hansen
(R-Hart), Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) and Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) are the focus of the
campaign’s first week because they have yet to take a position for or against this stimulus project.

“Senators Hansen, Emmons and Hildenbrand have records as solid fiscal conservatives, which is why we are surprised they have yet to take a stand against this bridge boondoggle as they have in the past,” said Scott Hagerstrom, State Director for AFP-Michigan. “We encourage them to immediately stand up for the taxpayers they represent and oppose this bridge that will cost every Michigan family $194.”

DRIC would be paid for with a $550 million loan from Canada and $2.2 billion of federal deficit spending, approximately $70 million of which would be Michigan taxpayers’ share. Traffic studies strongly suggest DRIC will never have enough traffic to pay back this debt, leaving Michigan taxpayers stuck with the bill.

Starting today through the middle of the week, more than 100,000 pieces of targeted direct mail
will arrive at mailboxes in Hansen’s, Emmons’ and Hildenbrand’s districts. Additionally, more
than 200 radio ads will be aired encouraging taxpayers to contact Hansen and Emmons about their
opposition to DRIC. The ads will run on stations in Muskegon, Mt. Pleasant and Greenville. A
radio campaign focusing on Senator Hildenbrand is being considered.

AFP - DRIC ad [ 1:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (232)

AFP-Michigan also released a web video showing both Gov. Rick Snyder and Canadian Transport
Minister Chuck Strahl claiming that Michigan and Canadian taxpayers, respectively, will not have
to invest or risk a penny in the project. The video can be viewed at MichiganAFP.com/video.

“Michigan doesn’t need DRIC, can’t afford DRIC, and has a private sector company willing to
build a second bridge at no cost to taxpayers,” continued Hagerstrom. “With politicians on both
sides of the border claiming their taxpayers won’t pay for it in any way, where is the money going
to come from and who should we believe?”

Americans For Prosperity is the nation’s leading free market, fiscally conservative taxpayer
organization with over 1.7 million members. AFP-Michigan has over 51,000 members and has
been opposing the DRIC stimulus spending project for over two years. AFP-Michigan was proud
to play a role in defeating DRIC legislation in 2010, when all State House Republicans (including
then-State Representatives Hansen and Hildenbrand) and 14 percent of House Democrats voted
against it. AFP chapters in Florida, California and New Jersey have also led successful advocacy
campaigns against similarly expensive and unnecessary make-work projects.

For more information about DRIC’s cost to taxpayers and state government, please
visit www.MichiganAFP.com.