Today's commentary by Jack Lessenberry
Four years ago, it looked as if efforts to build a badly needed new bridge over the Detroit River were doomed to failure.
Matty Moroun, the now 87-year-old owner of the Ambassador Bridge, had managed to corrupt the Legislature through that form of legalized bribery known as campaign contributions.
He poured hundreds of thousands into the campaigns and causes of influential legislators, most notably former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop.
In fact, as Jim Blanchard, the former governor and ambassador to Canada told me, Bishop broke his promise to the people. He had promised to allow a vote in the state Senate on whether or not to allow a partnership with Canada to build the bridge.
This is a bridge, by the way, that just about every business and corporate leader in Michigan agrees we need to stay competitive.