By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-892843.mp3
LANSING, MI – The Pure Michigan tourism ads will be back on the air in neighboring Midwestern states as people are making summer travel plans.
The Michigan Public Radio Network's Rick Pluta reports that the Legislature has approved a temporary funding measure to pay for the ads.
AUDIO: The Legislature's been deadlocked on the question since last year. Republicans won't accept Governor Granholm's proposal to tack a fee onto airport car rentals. The compromise will keep the campaign on the air for the balance of the year by tapping the state's general fund for $9.5 million. That's even though the fund is already facing a huge deficit.
But state Representative Dan Scripps says the state makes back the money it spends on Pure Michigan because it lures tourists to the state.
"A number of people whose livelihoods depend on the tourism industry were watching this vote. This is very good news," Scripps says.
Scripps says now lawmakers have to go back to work to identify an independent source of funding for the campaign.