Published on April 13, 2006
Here’s how to save $1.855 billion by injecting competition into government operations, providing public employee fringe benefits
comparable to (generous) Private-sector plans and eliminating non-core functions.
… morePublished on April 3, 2006 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on April 3, 2006
Published on March 24, 2006
Published on March 7, 2006 – Michigan Education Report
Published on March 2, 2006
Published on Feb. 28, 2006
Published on Feb. 14, 2006
Published on Jan. 10, 2006
Published on Dec. 15, 2005 – Michigan Education Report
Like all such proposals, the only thing these bills would do is make insurance unavailable at any price.
… morePublished on Dec. 5, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Nov. 18, 2005
So has Headlee restrained tax and spending growth? The answer is an unequivocal "maybe." In its 26-year history, the cap was exceeded just three times, and only once by enough to trigger a rebate.
… morePublished on Nov. 7, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Nov. 1, 2005
Published on Oct. 14, 2005
Published on Oct. 3, 2005
Published on Aug. 9, 2005
Published on Aug. 8, 2005
Imagine a restaurant with second-rate food, surly waiters, slow
service and high prices. When the manager sees a customer getting restless, he rushes over and offers a 15 percent price cut.
… morePublished on July 5, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on June 27, 2005
Published on June 22, 2005
Published on June 15, 2005
Published on May 18, 2005
Published on April 29, 2005
Published on April 22, 2005
Published on April 11, 2005 – Michigan Education Report
Published on April 6, 2005
Published on March 3, 2005
Published on Feb. 11, 2005
Published on Feb. 9, 2005
The world economy is relentlessly, ruthlessly competitive. Michigan has no entitlement to a healthy economic future. Unless Lansing finds the courage to abandon “business‑as‑usual,” the state’s economy — and the people of Michigan — will fall further and further behind.
… morePublished on Jan. 10, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Nov. 15, 2004
Published on Nov. 4, 2004
Published on Oct. 29, 2004
Published on Oct. 25, 2004
Published on Oct. 15, 2004
Published on Sept. 13, 2004
Published on Aug. 27, 2004
Published on June 28, 2004
Michigan taxpayers are shelling out almost $40 per rider on two Amtrak lines, on top of paid fares. No one has explained why it’s worth that much tax money to put a rider on a train instead of a bus or car.
… morePublished on June 14, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Sometimes the most penetrating economic insights come from “real people” in the rough-and-tumble world of small business
capitalism.
… morePublished on May 3, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on April 30, 2004
Published on April 21, 2004
Published on April 1, 2004
Published on March 30, 2004
Published on March 24, 2004
Published on March 17, 2004
Published on March 15, 2004
School districts tempted to dodge the demographic bullet with deluxe buildings and beggar-thy-neighbor policies should think twice. Instead, they should work on what really matters: making their education programs better.
… morePublished on March 1, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Feb. 26, 2004
Published on Feb. 24, 2004
Published on Feb. 19, 2004
Published on Dec. 19, 2003
Published on Dec. 18, 2003
Published on Dec. 11, 2003
Published on Dec. 4, 2003
No one — neither the governor, nor the legislative appropriations committees, nor the heads of 20 state departments can know where all the money is going.
… morePublished on Dec. 1, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Nov. 24, 2003
Published on Nov. 21, 2003
Published on Nov. 20, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
ISDs have become
bureaucracies in search of a mission — funded to the tune of
$878 million per year in property taxes statewide — with abuses such as those at OISD as the
result.
… morePublished on Oct. 6, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Oct. 3, 2003
Published on Oct. 1, 2003
Published on Sept. 10, 2003
Published on Sept. 8, 2003
Published on Aug. 21, 2003
Published on July 24, 2003
Published on July 16, 2003
Minor offenses aren’t overlooked. For example, a motorist unable to find his or her proof of insurance when requested by a police officer — even if they were, in fact, insured — would be assessed $300.
… morePublished on July 7, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on June 23, 2003
Published on June 16, 2003
Published on June 2, 2003
Published on May 29, 2003
Published on May 20, 2003
The state could give grants to county sheriff departments equivalent to 77 percent of the amount it currently spends for road patrols, or $128 million. This would allow sheriff’s departments to hire more deputies, and also boost their overhead to support the expanded operations.
… morePublished on May 5, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on April 8, 2003
Published on March 24, 2003
Published on March 14, 2003
Published on Feb. 18, 2003
Published on Jan. 30, 2003 – News Release
Published on Nov. 17, 2002 – Michigan Education Report
Published on Nov. 6, 2002 – Hot Topics
Published on Oct. 16, 2002 – News Release
Published on Sept. 16, 2002 – News Release
With both gubernatorial candidates favoring the proposal, homeowners could be socked with billions in additional property taxes.
… morePublished on Sept. 2, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
A bill in the Legislature that would allow school districts to use "sinking funds" for the same purposes as regular school bonds would effectively circumvent Proposal A's property tax limitation.
… morePublished on July 25, 2002
Published on June 14, 2002
Most Michiganians would not think to associate the rising costs of medical care with higher auto insurance premiums. But thanks to state laws governing auto insurance, the one has a direct impact on the other. One way policy-makers could keep costs of both medical care and auto insurance down is by introducing market-friendly reforms, such as medical savings accounts, into the health care system.
… morePublished on May 6, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Engler's proposal to move the state school property tax due date to July would accelerate $490 million in tax revenue forward into the new fiscal year-but would it also result in a net tax increase for some Michiganians?
… morePublished on March 20, 2002
In the name of "protecting the public," a recently proposed package of bills would require small-time "curbside" auto dealers to obtain a state license before they could sell cars. But instead of protecting the public, licensure laws are often used by larger businesses as a way to raise barriers to new competitors and restrict consumers' choices.
… morePublished on Jan. 7, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Michigan has a reputation as a "good government" state, with a constitution that encourages transparency and openness in the legislative process. Now michiganvotes.org, a new web site that for the first time posts objective, concise, plain-English descriptions of every bill, amendment, and vote, is enhancing state government's already admirable record of accountability.
… morePublished on Nov. 5, 2001 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
![[Photo of Jack McHugh]](/media/images/people/mchugh-j.jpg)
