Why don't you go with that, Mr. Obama

Billions and billions of dollars in trade between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, and the Obama Administration has a very good idea;

In a potential blow to a project that would speed traffic over one of the world's busiest trade routes, the Obama administration is holding back financial support for a customs plaza that is key to the future of a proposed international bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

Canada has already pledged to provide or guarantee private funding for most of the project's expected $3.65 billion cost, including $550 million for a connection between the bridge and U.S. Interstate 75. The Obama administration approved construction of the bridge last April, and Ottawa expected Washington to contribute $250 million to build the plaza, without which the bridge wouldn't be viable.

The bridge has support of Michigan's Republican governor and its two Democratic senators, among others in the state's congressional delegation. But U.S. officials say that there are limited infrastructure dollars and competing projects and that private money can step in on this bridge.

Maybe a phone call to ex-Governor Mitch Daniels might shed a little light on how to proceed. After all, the Canadian social security system currently owns the rights to the revenues from the Indiana Toll Road, for which the state of Indiana was paid almost $4 billion in 2006.

Contrary to the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the usual left-wingers at the time, it's worked out pretty well for Indiana, as they took the upfront payment and improved other roads and highways in the state. That led Honda to build a new auto plant in the state.