By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-889899.mp3
LANSING, MI – There's a showdown brewing at the state Capitol over how much to spend on the Pure Michigan tourism promotion campaign.
The state House tourism committee has approved spending 20 million dollars on the campaign and paying for it with a new tax on airport rental cars. But Senate Republicans have already said "no" to new taxes. State Senator Nancy Cassis says the Pure Michigan campaign can survive on less than half of what the House committee called for.
"We have so many needs - education, Medicaid, support to our local police and fire that we have to keep everything in balance," Cassis says.
The Senate plan would take the money from the state's general fund.
Tourism officials say they'd like to see the Legislature reach a deal in time to get the Pure Michigan campaign back on the air nationwide by early April when people are starting to make summer travel plans.