State Sen. Dale Zorn Praises State Subsidy To Taiwanese Firm

State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, issued a press release applauding a $1 million state grant for EOI Pioneer to expand its operations in Dundee, which the company says will bring 95 jobs.

Zorn called the $1 million state grant “exciting news.” The press release stated, "EOI Pioneer Inc. is a subsidiary of Excellence Optoelectronics, Inc., a Taiwan-based manufacturer of LED light sources and electronics assemblies for the automotive industry."

The senator has a consistent record in favor of giving taxpayer-funded subsidies to private companies and developers selected by state officials. The Mackinac Center’s Business Subsidy Scorecard shows that Zorn has never opposed one of the programs that transfer state revenue to private interests. The scorecard tracks legislators’ votes on bills authorizing cash payments to certain private companies — not just tax breaks and other favors.

Specifically, since Zorn was first elected to the state House in 2010, he has voted “yes” on bills authorizing up to $1.815 billion worth of such favors. He has never voted “no” on a bill that meets this scorecard’s criteria. He has also cast hundreds of favorable votes on other so-called economic development benefits for a relative handful of corporations and developers.