We laugh through tears at the Governor's latest pet-project, cutting checks to Hollywood actors and big-wigs to convince them to visit Michigan for a few weeks at a time and both responses are entirely valid.

Anytime you hear that the State government is spending $127 million in a fiscal year to "create jobs" and "generate revenue" only to find out that the expected return on that investment is a meager $10 million tears are justified.  We are, after all, firmly entrenched in the mother of all single-state recessions.  Reading that lawmakers are "surprised" by the cost and the light return on the investment only makes those tears taste that much more bitter.

And when the Democrats big coup de grace is the announcement that Dawson from Dawson's Creek is coming to town, well, it's either laugh or fuel up the car for a one way trip to Indiana.  With gas prices what they are it's a good thing I've got a good sense of humor.

But maybe we can just chalk it all up to unfortunate timing.  MLive has some awfully exciting news:

The Hollywood Reporter just announced that "Tug," the romantic comedy set to film in West Michigan in June, is in negotiations with Haylie Duff and Sam Huntington to star, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Haylie Duff!

That's Hillary's older sister, by the way.  You know, Lizzy Maguire?  She was Hannah Montana before Hannah Montana was Hannah Montana?  She was a worldwide pre-teen phenomenon for years.  Like David Cassidy except a girl and thirty years later.

See?  This is a big deal!  

Plus, hey, seriously, I'm a big fan.  I loved her in 7th Heaven.  Haylie that is.  Not Hillary.  Hillary's not coming to Michigan.  Besides, Haylie is... well... did you look at that picture?  

(Is this how Liberal Lucy felt when she heard James Van Der Beek was on his way?)

Bonus, the budget of the project is less than a million dollars.  That means you and I are only going to have to write Lizzy's sister a check for $420,000, max.  That's nothing but walking around money for this incarnation of the State Legislature.  Couldn't buy any new books, raise teacher salaries, fix a few roads or hire six or seven case workers to look after the abused kids in the State's Foster program or anything like that.

This is money muuuuuch better spent.