A federal-state dispute over money to build a U.S. customs inspections plaza at the planned New International Trade Crossing bridge "is making it more difficult" to proceed, Gov. Rick Snyder says.
His irritation over the impasse in general and Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun in particular showed during a discussion of various topics Friday at the Free Press, it reports.
Speaking to the Free Press editorial board, Snyder — who rarely departs from his mantra of “relentless positive action” when speaking to the news media — seemed genuinely put out by the delays.
“The U.S. government has largely taken a position that they don’t think they should pay anything for a facility for the United States government,” he said.
Asked whom the federal officials want to pay for the customs plaza where incoming vehicles would be checked by federal workers, Snyder said, “Apparently, someone other than them.”
Snyder, described as "feisty by reporters John Gallagher and Paul Egan, sees Moroun as an influential obstacle. For competitive reasons, the local billionaire has opposed a second Detroit River bridge from the start.
Snyder put part of the blame on Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel (Matty) Moroun, who has been lobbying fiercely in Washington D.C. over the past year on the bridge issue.
Financial disclosure records show that Moroun’s Detroit International Bridge Company spent $180,000 in 2013 on lobbyists in Washington on behalf of Moroun’s interests. In addition, Moroun has made significant campaign contributions to the more conservative Republican members of the Michigan delegation in Congress.
