LANSING ? Michigan is on its way to spending $25 million a year on the popular “Pure Michigan” advertising campaign after a bill using 21st Century Jobs Fund money passed a House committee unanimously on Tuesday.

Clean Water Action reacted to the vote by saying lawmakers should be just as dedicated financially to cleaning up the state’s waterways as they are to highlighting them in the ads.

“If lawmakers can set aside the money to market our Great Lakes way of life, they should also set aside the money to protect our water and other natural treasures from pollution so our citizens and tourists can enjoy our lakes and rivers for years to come,” said Cyndi Roper, Clean Water Action’s Michigan director.

The group noted funding for the state’s pollution monitoring and enforcement has dropped to $25 million from $100 million 10 years ago.

The legislation (HB 4160 ), reported from House Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, adds tourism promotion as a permanent eligible activity for jobs fund money, and Governor Rick Snyder will make good on his call for Pure Michigan ads to receive $25 million annually in his February 17 budget presentation, Jim McBryde with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation told the panel.

Snyder is expected to present is 2011-12 fiscal year budget, as well as recommendation for spending in the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The committee amended the bill to require the MEDC provide a report to legislators on where the $25 million goes each year. The MEDC produces several reports each year, some of which already go to Appropriations Committee members, but this would extend the distribution of information.

“I think it’s important to be able to go back to our constituents and show we’ve been prudent with their money,” said Rep. Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine), the amendment’s sponsor.

The Legislature and governor first created the jobs fund in 2006 by securitizing some of the state’s future tobacco settlement revenue.

NATIONAL FOREST: The committee also reported two measures (HCR 2 and HR 17 ) expressing lawmakers’ opposition to a lawsuit aimed at stopping firearm hunting and snowmobiling in part of the Huron-Manistee National Forest.

The U.S. Forest Service, while reviewing its Land and Resource Management plan of the forest after a U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, has been sued to halt hunting and snowmobiling in all primitive areas and semi-primitive non-motorized management areas, which is about 70,000 acres.

But supporters of the resolutions said stopping those recreational activities would have a negative effect on the economy of northern Michigan.

“They eat in our restaurants, and they enjoy the great north as they should,” said Rep. Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle).

The resolutions were reported on nearly unanimous votes with Rep. Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe) abstaining. Bledsoe pointed out the lawsuit relates to 7 percent of the forest’s total acreage.

The Michigan Snowmobiling Association, Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association and Michigan United Conservation Clubs support the resolutions. There was no testimony in opposition.

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