DETROIT ? The Moroun family, in a bid to use the Michigan Constitution to stop a second bridge across the Detroit River that would threaten their monopoly with the Ambassador Bridge, has now committed an astounding $29 million of their fortune to the effort, campaign finance reports filed Friday show.

The People Should Decide, the group backing the ballot proposal, showed more than $19.3 million worth of contributions and about $15.8 million in expenditures this reporting period, from July 21 through October 21. That doesn?t include the $4.7 million it raised prior to July 20, nor the $5.1 million late contribution it just received. Virtually all of $29 million has come from the Moroun family trying to force its self-interests into the state Constitution.

The group still has a balance of more than $3.5 million headed into November. All contributions came from the Detroit International Bridge Company, which runs the Ambassador.

Taxpayers Against Monopolies, the group aiming to defeat the Morouns? Proposal 12-6, managed to raise $734,350 for the period, as well as an additional $180,000 in late contributions. The single largest contribution to the group came from General Motors LLC, which contributed $500,000. Chrysler Group LLC also decided to get involved in the campaign by contributing $100,000 ? the same amount that came from Meijer in Grand Rapids in a late contribution.

?GM has from the beginning and continues to support the constructing of the New International Trade Crossing,? said Heather Rosenker, director of public policy and government relations for General Motors. ?This new crossing is essential to ensure quick, reliable and cost effective transportation of goods and people between the United States and Canada. The ability to efficiently move goods is one of the keys to the auto industry’s and our nation’s competitiveness in a global economy.?

As a result of the donations, the group said it would advertise on television next week.

Another group whose campaign finance report is now available is Defend Michigan Democracy, the group aiming to defeat Proposal 12-5, which would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or statewide vote of the people to increase taxes. Defend Michigan Democracy has seen substantial support from both sides of the aisle, though its report showed it garnered more than $1 million in donations in the most recent reporting period ? a small amount compared to some other proposals.

Defend Michigan Democracy spent about $568,329 in the last reporting period. Its largest contributions came from the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., at $250,000 and a total of $269,000 from the Michigan Municipal League. The Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Health and Hospital Association and Michigan Education Association also added six-figure donations, while various educators? groups gave smaller but still critical donations.

The finance for the Michigan Alliance for Prosperity, the group backing the two-thirds proposal, is not yet available.

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