Diane S. Katz [Mackinac Center]

Diane S. Katz is an adjunct scholar for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, formerly serving as director of science, environment and technology policy from 2002 to 2008. Prior to joining the Center, Katz served for nine years as a member of The Detroit News editorial board, specializing in science and the environment, telecommunications and technology, and the auto industry. Her work has won numerous awards, including top honors from the Michigan Press Association in 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Land-Use Council Prescribes Social Engineering

Published on Aug. 18, 2003

Beachfront Property Rights Need Protection

Regulators would do far better … to focus attention on the dumping of raw sewage and chemicals that are triggering abnormal plant and algae growth along the lakeshore. … more

Published on June 2, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Corporate Welfare in Telecom Harms Consumers

Published on May 19, 2003

If DNR Can’t Pay Its Property Taxes, It Should Sell Some Land

Published on May 5, 2003

Eagle Sightings Signal Improved Michigan Water Quality

The United States and Canada have identified 14 areas within Michigan’s jurisdiction in which water quality does not support a full range of uses, such as drinking or fish consumption. … more

Published on May 5, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Regulatory Power Threatens Rights of Beachfront Property Owners

Published on April 9, 2003

Don’t Stifle Telecom Competition

Published on April 3, 2003

Attack on SUVs Unwarranted

Highway safety in general has dramatically improved despite a doubling of licensed drivers and twice as many registrations. The fatality rate hit a historic low of 1.51 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2001, down from 5.5 in 1966. … more

Published on March 3, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Senate Bill Would Revive Telephone Price Controls

Published on Jan. 17, 2003 – News Release

Telephone Rate Regulation Rings Hollow

Published on Jan. 15, 2003

Review of Environmental Bond Fund Uncovers Inflated Costs, Misplaced Priorities

Published on Oct. 24, 2002 – News Release

Should State Borrow Money for Environmental Programs?

Published on Oct. 23, 2002

The DNR's Latest Land Grab

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking control of some 390,000 acres of prime Upper Peninsula property to preserve as forestland and for recreational access. Well-intended though the proposal may be, the state should be privatizing resource management rather than increasing its already vast holdings. … more

Published on Oct. 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report

Regulatory Wrangling Stymies Telecom Competition

Published on Oct. 11, 2002

$20 Million DNR Proposal a “Land Grab,” Analyst Says

Published on Sept. 3, 2002 – News Release

Land Grab: State Wrong On Development Rights

Published on Sept. 3, 2002

Who Reviews the Peer Review?

Should published research be pre-approved by other researchers, or should the market decide its worth? … more

Published on Aug. 26, 2002

The Next Energy Boondoggle?

Promoting energy R&D in Michigan does not require yet another government bureaucracy allocating favors to select firms. Privatization of state and federal research programs may make Michigan the economic powerhouse the governor envisions. … more

Published on July 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report

Is Next Energy the Next Energy Boondoggle?

Promoting energy R&D in Michigan does not require yet another government bureaucracy allocating favors to firms willing to relocate to state-owned property. … more

Published on June 5, 2002

The Great 9-1-1 Tax Pileup

In 1996, the Federal Communications Commission told states to create cell-locator 9-1-1 emergency phone service and pay for it themselves. Washington miscalculated both costs and capacity, and today only 21 of 83 Michigan counties have even partially implemented this "unfunded mandate." Meanwhile, the overpaid taxes are piling up. The federal government should scrap its plan and allow the private sector to come up with the most reliable, cost-effective 9-1-1 service. … more

Published on June 3, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

"Virtual Reality Fee" Virtually Kills Development

Birmingham's "virtual reality fee," which assesses steep taxes on business owners who want to paint or otherwise modify their buildings, is a threat to the city's economic well being. … more

Published on May 14, 2002

Dialing (911) for Dollars

Michigan consumers are forking over millions of dollars annually for more sophisticated 911 services that have yet to materialize. Prescribed by federal regulators six years ago, the enhanced emergency calling system is beset by technical and financial difficulties that demonstrate the pitfalls of unfunded mandates. … more

Published on May 9, 2002

Setting the Course for More Effective Environmental Policy

Mackinac Center Director of Science, Environment, and Technology Policy Diane Katz's speech "Setting the Course for More Effective Environmental Policy," delivered April 29, 2002, at the Mackinac Center Issues and Ideas luncheon in Lansing. … more

Published on May 1, 2002

Broadband Agency Taps Housing Money

"What does a program designed to help low-income people get affordable housing have to do with wiring the state for high-speed Internet access?" … more

Published on April 19, 2002

Depression-Era Program Should be Privatized

The Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps is a Depression-era program that recruits people ages 18-25 to spruce up state parks, clear trails and rake beaches. The MCCC program should be removed from state stewardship. … more

Published on April 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report

New EPA Air Regs Could Kill Michigan Jobs

The regulatory state scored a major victory when a federal appeals court recently concluded that procedure matters far more than scientific fact in environmental rulemaking. Unless Congress intervenes, the ruling will prove enormously costly to Michigan workers and industry without yielding commensurate benefits. … more

Published on April 8, 2002

Proposals for Oil Conservation More of a Threat than Energy Dependence

A spate of proposals for reducing America's "dependence" on foreign oil have followed in the wake of Sept. 11. These proposals are misguided and would do more to undermine American strength, which lies in its economic power and stability, than dependence on foreign oil ever has, or will. … more

Published on April 1, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

CAFE = Causing Auto Fatalities Everywhere?

The U.S. Senate will devote most of March to debating a $35-billion energy package that supposedly will protect Americans from both greedy sheikhs and global warming. But if enacted as proposed, the measure actually would result in a good deal of American blood needlessly spilled on U.S. highways. … more

Published on March 1, 2002

Good News for the New Year: Americans Living Longer Than Ever

There's good news for the New Year: Americans are living longer than at any time in history-76.9 years, on average. This is testimony to both the vibrancy of nature and the ingenuity of man-and the industrial and technological progress fueled by free minds and free markets. … more

Published on Feb. 4, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Should the State Boost Broadband?

In his 2002 State of the State address, Gov. John Engler touted the economic benefits to be derived from his proposed state government takeover of Michigan's high-speed Internet network. But a host of unrealistic assumptions underlie the governor's claims. … more

Published on Jan. 29, 2002

A Success Story Without the Success

To skeptics who question the wisdom of his proposal for state control of broadband deployment, Gov. John Engler offers as validation the success of Michigan's housing development program. But the similarities are slim and the benefits disputed. … more

Published on Jan. 16, 2002

Wrong Road

Surrounded by hundreds of gleaming new autos at the 2002 North American International Auto Show, Detroit's annual celebration of the internal combustion engine, U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Wednesday effectively conceded what the Big Three and their customers have known for years: the feds have no business dictating vehicle design. … more

Published on Jan. 14, 2002

Engler's Broadband Ambition

Gov. John Engler's ambitious plan for state control of high-speed Internet lines gets its first hearing in the Legislature today. In considering the proposal, lawmakers would do well to heed the dismal results of similar schemes in other states. … more

Published on Jan. 9, 2002

Long Live Us

There's good news for the New Year. Americans are living longer than at any time in history-76.9 years, on average. This is testimony to both the vibrancy of nature and the ingenuity of man. … more