Democrats may not care either way whether Gov. Snyder allows direct-to-consumer sales in Michigan or not, but they hope to capitalize on whatever he decides.
This is just a wild guess but dollars to donuts the Democrats have written two news releases for later today (Tuesday) and regardless of what the governor does, one of them will go out and it won’t be congratulatory.
Part of the problem with running for governor as an incumbent is that you have a record and when Gov. Rick Snyder makes his decision on the so-called Tesla bill he will add to that record.
Here’s the governor’s conundrum. He has pitched himself as someone who wants to about that.
It wants to sell its popular electric cars in Michigan but from its own stores and not through an established dealership here.
• Related: Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales may already be illegal
On the surface you would say what the heck is wrong with that?
Nothing of course unless you are a car dealer in Michigan. They are putting the heat on the governor to sign the bill that was crafted in the legislature, where the car guys spread around a lot of moola during an election year, to insulate those dealers from Tesla.
So what’s the free-market governor to do?
Democrats from a crass political standpoint don’t care what he does.
Possible news release number one if he signs the bill: Given a chance to embrace entrepreneurship, which he says he loves, and given a chance to welcome the Tesla car company to the state, the governor sided with his pals at the Michigan Auto Dealers Association and told the electric car company to stay in California.
Possible news release number two if he vetoes the bill: Given a chance to protect car dealers in this state who have been fighting for their lives, Gov. Rick Snyder blew it by dusting off the welcome mat to a California car maker that does not want to play by Michigan’s rules on selling vehicles at a traditional dealership. Talk about not saying yes to Michigan.
The company complains the legislation also bans it from communicating in person with a potential buyer who might come into a building where the cars are displayed. Does the governor not endorse free speech?
For those gloating D’s over in the corner just waiting for the governor’s decision, they see it as a win-win either way.
Watch "Off the Record with Tim Skubick" online anytime at video.wkar.org