LANSING – An advertising blitz this summer put on by the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, which hammers the Michigan Legislature on the New International Trade Crossing, is clearly leaving senators on the front lines eager for both more factual detail on SB 410 and SB 411 and a resolution to the issue soon.

But it appears they will only get the first item as the Senate Economic Development Committee will hold five more hearings through October 19 to discuss the crossing’s impact on the auto sector, the legal and financial ramifications of the bills, traffic projections, the Gateway Project, and how the Delray neighborhood would handle a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

A vote on the bills may come on or after October 26, a top aide said.

Reflecting the frustration many lawmakers have on the bridge crossing, and the arguments made both for and against it that are often conflicting, Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) asked if people testifying in the future could be put under oath.

“We need to make sure we’re getting true information,” he said.

Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township), committee chair, said he asked legal counsel about that issue and would get back to members this week.

The only testimony taken during Wednesday’s hearing was from Brad Williams of the Detroit Regional Chamber, representing a coalition supporting the NITC.

While Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) noted the Detroit International Bridge Company, which owns the Ambassador Bridge, sent three mailers to voters in his district, Williams’ strategy of deflecting the massive media blitz was to replay two television ads aired by company and then break out how each argument was false.

“Just because the owners of the Ambassador Bridge don’t want it doesn’t mean we don’t need it,” Williams said of NITC.

While he got close to saying the ads were outright lies, Kowall stepped in and urged Williams not to make such a declaration. Kowall said he would extend the same courtesy to people reacting to Williams’ statements.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), who is sponsoring the bills, has said the focus should be on how Michigan can receive more federal dollars through the NITC for other roads and bridges across the state.

Williams told the committee it was interesting the Ambassador Bridge would criticize that move when it offered toll credits to do the same thing. But Hansen noted Michigan is limited to its federal matching money and the $550 million from the Canadian government would not draw down new money from Washington.

Williams acknowledged that point, but countered Michigan has scrambled to meet its federal match rate as gas consumption, and tax revenue from that consumption, decreases. The Canadian money would avoid having to look for other revenues to meet the match, including a gas tax hike, he said.

Hildenbrand said for him, it all boils down to the cost of a new bridge to taxpayers. He offered the idea that every page of the legislation should repeat a line already in there, which says the state is not under financial obligation for the crossing. Williams said of the language, “Everyone I’m hearing from that I trust says this is water-tight.”

Sen. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek) asked Williams, “You don’t like to see a business fail in the Detroit area do you?” That point goes to the Moroun’s argument the NITC would crush their business.

Williams said the Ambassador Bridge is one of 20,000 members and affiliates of the Detroit chamber, but like all policy decisions, there are winners and losers.

“We choose what is going to be of the greatest benefit to the widest variety of our members,” he said, adding lawmakers should take the same approach to the legislation.

COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION: The statutory framework for the Community Revitalization Program, which replaces brownfield tax credits at the end of this year, was reported by the Senate panel (SB 566 , SB 567 and SB 568 ).

The Legislature appropriated $100 million for the state’s economic development efforts in the 2011-12 budget.

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