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It Was 25 Years Ago Today - Michigan's Big Corporate Welfare Experiment

Marking a MEGA Anniversary

… better known by its acronym, MEGA. The MEGA is a selective business subsidy … it. It’s worth a review of MEGA for no other reason than a … his administration birthed MEGA. I remember distinctly the … three formal analyses of the MEGA program, which helped lead …

‘But For’ Can’t Be Proved: Corporate Welfare is a Waste

New MEGA not costless, despite assurances

… explained in the blog article, “MEGA Tax Credits Are Not Without … the proposed legislation “New MEGA” for the similarities it has with the original MEGA law. The fact is apologists … hearing about the proposed New MEGA, the same “but for” arguments … Stamas, R-Midland: “This is not a MEGA. This does not take other taxpayer …

Kmart Property is MEGA Reminder Not to Extend Subsidy Program

Good Jobs for Michigan is modeled after the failed MEGA

… Economic Growth Authority — or, MEGA — program. The GJFM program … allowed to sunset before it, like MEGA itself, costs taxpayers billions … itself was offered and accepted MEGA incentive deals and still failed … programs cost. For Kmart’s second MEGA deal, in 2000, the state’s … have been published about the MEGA program and four of them found …

Legislature Considers Reopening a Closed Business Subsidy Program

Good Jobs For Michigan is a repackaged MEGA

… essentially a repackaged version of MEGA. It shares a large number of features … the payments to companies in the new MEGA are disclosable to taxpayers, while old MEGA is still considered confidential tax … sounds and acts like the old, failed MEGA program.

New Corporate Welfare Proposal is Unfair

'Good Jobs for Michigan' a repeat of failed MEGA program

… favors were paid out via the old MEGA program — in that case, via … for Michigan” is basically MEGA 2. The new bill’s text contains … they did with the original MEGA law. Such transfers do more … In 1995, one of the first MEGA deals ever struck went to the … required by law to say that it was MEGA that made the difference in …

Let the Sun Shine In

Specific MEDC/MEGA Transparency Recommendations

… recommendations include: Restore an "All MEGA Projects" spreadsheet the agency … abatements offered to each MEGA project. Publish a monthy MEGA jobs tally by project for companies … actually provided jobs and earned MEGA tax credits (as opposed to … Publish detailed reports on MEGA deals similar to those of the …

News Release: MEGA and MEDC Growing “Aggressively Less Transparent,” Says Center Analyst

Center database will fill gap by providing information about each MEGA deal

… released a Policy Brief titled, "MEGA, the MEDC and the Loss of Sunshine." MEGA, the Michigan Economic Growth … "The MEDC in general and the MEGA program specifically have gotten … contrast between the annual MEGA activity report submitted to … direct jobs allegedly created by MEGA and the indirect spin-off jobs …

Our Accomplishments

… owning tools and equipment. Dec 2011 The end of MEGA The Michigan Economic Growth Authority is abolished. Mackinac Center analysts had raised concerns when MEGA was proposed, forcing Gov. John Engler to try three … discriminatory nature of the tax breaks offered by MEGA. Dec 2011 Lifted cap on charter schools Legislators …

State MEGA Audit Finds MEGA Problems

… it is poorly administered. MEGA is the state's flagship "jobs" … by the agency that oversees MEGA. In other words, this was a … to determine whether or not MEGA companies granted selective … of wages to be paid out by MEGA companies, and reported by … laid out to qualify for the MEGA credits. Of 15 specific MEGA …

Return of the Mega Subsidy

Corporate welfare still demonstrably ineffective

… by the Legislature on a new MEGA of sorts that will give politicians … cut-and-paste job from the original MEGA law, passed in 1995. For instance, both the old MEGA law and new jobs proposal contain … estimate, only 2.3 percent of MEGA deals met their original promises … spending billions. In 2016 alone, MEGA cost the treasury $1 billion, …