Governor Rick Snyder says he would not have tied the Pure Michigan brand so closely with the state’s controversial right-to-work law in a recent ad.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has been taking criticism for the ad, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal.
It promotes right-to-work alongside a logo for the state’s popular tourism campaign.
Governor Snyder said he thinks the message was too specific, and possibly divisive.
“I didn’t review the ad ahead of time. But the advice I gave them and the counsel is, as a former business person, is I said I would have preferred if it would have had a much broader definition, talking about the (Michigan Business Tax) repeal, unemployment insurance. There’s a long list of things that could be included with that,” Snyder said.
But Snyder said he respects the MEDC’s decision, and has no problem with their use of the Pure Michigan brand to promote the state’s economic policies.
The agency does marketing work for the state using both public and private funds.
It has not returned a request for comment.
