Bill to boost funds for Pure Michigan ads clears Senate

A bill that would earmark $9.5 million in state use taxes to go toward the state's tourism-marketing campaign cleared the state Senate on Wednesday but faces further debate in the House.
Senate Bill 619 provides funding that, added to $5.4 million in general funds in the state's current-year budget, would give state tourism-marketing agency Travel Michigan $14.9 million to spend this year.
That's just half of what was available last year for the Pure Michigan campaign, which was created by Birmingham ad agency McCann-Erickson.
A Democratic amendment that would have imposed a car rental fee to help fund the campaign, as called for by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, was defeated in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, now goes to the House Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources, chaired by Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch.