Around Michigan & State Government

"Good Jobs” bill: Snyder backed it. Republican leaders opposed it. Both parties passed it.

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published July 12, 2017 at 4:52 PM EDT

Lawmakers in Lansing may have to cut revenue sharing with local governments to fill the $1.8 billion budget hole.

Stateside's conversation with Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta, Michigan Radio's It's Just Politics team.

Today is the only day this month that Michigan's lawmakers are in session, and the House used it to vote on a major new tax incentive for businesses.

Months of lively debate ended when the tax incentive package passed with bipartisan support. It was a vote that defied House Republican leaders and Speaker Tom Leonard, and served up a big win for Governor Rick Snyder.

To help break it all down, Stateside talked to Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta from Michigan Radio's It's Just Politics team.

The "Good Jobs" bill creates a targeted incentive for businesses that create hundreds or thousands of jobs and pay above average wages. The opposition, which was a mix of Republicans and Democrats, called it "corporate welfare." The other side called it a "necessary tool" to attract businesses to the state.

Listen to the full interview above to hear about the origins of this bill, the deals that had to be made to make it a reality, and what this means for Gov. Snyder's agenda going forward.

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