Which Firms To Get $1 Billion from State Taxpayers? None of Your Business

In February the state of Michigan gave a select handful of businesses $156.7 million in “refundable” tax credits because of deals made during the administration of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The payments were the product of special deals expected to cost $1 billion this year with more in the future. Last year, the Department of Treasury revealed that over 20 years this redistribution will total more than $9 billion.

ForTheRecord says: Who were the fortunate corporate welfare beneficiaries? The public doesn’t know because the organization in charge of distributing these benefits – the Michigan Economic Development Corporation — says it’s confidential and none of our business. The agency refuses to disclose this information despite a state law requiring it to do so (MCL 207.810).