Published on Sept. 9, 2005
According to Loock, the district went from paying a $100,000 subsidy to the food program to posting a profit of up to $25,000 after Chartwells took over.
… morePublished on Aug. 1, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on July 11, 2005
Published on June 30, 2005
Published on May 21, 2005
MEGA’s attempt to pick winners and losers is a poor substitute for improving the fundamentals of Michigan’s business climate.
… morePublished on May 2, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on April 19, 2005
More than 50 years of economic development history in Michigan should be enough to convince us that the economic development emperor has no clothes.
… morePublished on April 4, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on March 17, 2005
Published on March 9, 2005
Published on March 1, 2005
Published on Feb. 25, 2005
Published on Jan. 18, 2005
Only eliminating the SBT and ensuring a bold net reduction in business taxes can begin to trump Michigan’s other handicaps in its economic competition with other states and nations. Even eliminating the SBT and cutting state spending dollar-for-dollar is not impossible; the Mackinac Center for Public Policy has detailed billions in potential state budget savings in areas like Medicaid, education and corrections.
… morePublished on Jan. 10, 2005 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Dec. 15, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Dec. 15, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
At the end of fiscal 2000, Michigan budget officials informed
lawmakers that the treasury had received $600 million more than had been budgeted. Rather than return it to taxpayers, state
legislators went on a spending spree that included a new polar bear exhibit for the Detroit Zoo.
… morePublished on Dec. 6, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Dec. 2, 2004
Published on Nov. 19, 2004
Published on Nov. 17, 2004
Published on Nov. 5, 2004
Published on Oct. 15, 2004
We cannot lose sight of the fact that selective favors discriminate against those who do not receive them and distract policymakers from the broader business-climate reforms that would benefit everybody.
… morePublished on Oct. 4, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Sept. 28, 2004
Between 1995 and 2003, Michigan finished 51st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in employment growth.
… morePublished on Sept. 6, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Aug. 17, 2004 – News Release
Published on Aug. 5, 2004
Published on July 16, 2004
Published on July 6, 2004
Published on April 26, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on April 26, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on April 26, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on April 26, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on April 26, 2004 – Michigan Privatization Report
“Because the profits are so fantastic, we’re now seeing drug traffickers, other criminal organizations, and even terrorists involved in tobacco smuggling.”
… morePublished on April 5, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on March 25, 2004
Tuition hikes could actually help those students who truly need help — by enabling the school to offer greater outright gift aid and tuition reductions to students from low-income families, as is often the practice at private universities.
… morePublished on March 1, 2004 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Feb. 25, 2004
Published on Feb. 20, 2004
Published on Feb. 12, 2004
Published on Feb. 10, 2004
Published on Jan. 28, 2004
Published on Dec. 16, 2003
Published on Dec. 1, 2003
Published on Nov. 20, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Nov. 20, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Nov. 20, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Nov. 18, 2003
Published on Nov. 11, 2003
Published on Nov. 4, 2003
Our state and its city governments would do better to focus on their more important functions (schools, roads and public safety, for example), which are often carried out in ways that are anything but cool.
… morePublished on Nov. 3, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Oct. 24, 2003
Published on Oct. 14, 2003
Published on Oct. 14, 2003
Published on Oct. 8, 2003
Published on Sept. 10, 2003
Published on Sept. 4, 2003
Published on Aug. 5, 2003
Published on July 30, 2003
Published on July 29, 2003
Published on July 18, 2003
Published on July 10, 2003
Published on June 30, 2003
The fact that poor-performing private companies have been fired — a point the MEA makes very clear — doesn’t prove that privatization doesn’t work. It proves that
it does.
… morePublished on June 2, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on May 27, 2003
Published on May 14, 2003
Published on April 30, 2003
Published on March 4, 2003 – News Release
With government at all levels consuming over 40 percent of national income — more than ever before in our nation’s history — now is the time for bold initiatives to re-shape what state government does and does not do.
… morePublished on March 3, 2003 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Feb. 11, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Feb. 11, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Feb. 11, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Feb. 11, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Feb. 11, 2003 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Feb. 11, 2003
Mackinac Center report identifies $34 million in state agriculture department savings; $59 million in one-time revenue.
… morePublished on Jan. 21, 2003 – News Release
Published on Jan. 17, 2003 – News Release
Michael LaFaive on Engler's tax policy in
Gongwer News Service
.
… morePublished on Dec. 18, 2002
Published on Dec. 13, 2002
...when the same FOC office that failed to collect for Nancy Fox for a
decade got wind of the private agency’s success, it mandated that Supportkids
route the ex-husband’s payment through the FOC, at which time it would take
its “processing fee.”
… morePublished on Dec. 2, 2002 – Viewpoint on Public Issues
Published on Oct. 23, 2002 – News Release
Published on Oct. 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
As part of the state's attempt to maintain quality recreational fishing for Michigan citizens and tourists, it operates six fish hatcheries. Does the state need to own the facilities at which fish are reared?
… morePublished on Oct. 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
Does owning and running its own hotel/conference center rank as a legitimate function of the state? Probably not - especially when the facility isn't open to all taxpayers.
… morePublished on Oct. 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on Oct. 10, 2002
Now that songs are sung about public policy, we're near the tipping point.
… morePublished on Aug. 27, 2002
Based on a speech given by Michael LaFaive June 22, 2002, at Northwood University's annual "Freedom Seminar" in Midland.
… morePublished on Aug. 26, 2002
Staff Economist Michael LaFaive is interviewed on cigarette taxes and smuggling.
… morePublished on Aug. 1, 2002 – News Release
Mackinac Center for Public Policy Staff Economist Michael LaFaive talks about industrial policy in an interview with Michigan Public Radio.
… morePublished on July 31, 2002
Michigan State Industries is modeled loosely along the lines of Federal Prison Industries. Both programs employ cheap prison labor in the production of goods made for government bureaucracies. In Michigan, lawmakers should allow prisons to contract out their labor to private firms.
… morePublished on July 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
Why should Cabela's Retail Inc., a national sporting goods retailer, receive state subsidies to set up shop in Michigan when competitor Jay's Sporting Goods has been faithfully serving Michigan's outdoor enthusiasts since 1968 - without taking a dime of taxpayer money?
… morePublished on July 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
For two decades, governments around the country have been experimenting with so-called "enterprise zones," government-selected areas or projects that are singled out for special tax breaks and reductions. Michigan state government has selected 24 such areas, known as "renaissance zones." But if tax relief can boost economic development for a targeted area, why not lower taxes across the board for all areas of the state?
… morePublished on July 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
Published on June 19, 2002
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has released "Keeping Michigan on Track: A Blueprint for a Freer, More Prosperous State," a comprehensive policy blueprint with dozens of specific ideas for lawmakers to consider in crafting state policy for the next term and beyond.
… morePublished on May 7, 2002 – News Release
Published on April 18, 2002
Published on April 18, 2002
The Legislative Research Division, a department of Michigan state government tasked with researching various policy issues, has produced a report highlighting a few of the Great Lakes State's more notable attempts at privatization.
MPR reviews its findings.
… morePublished on April 15, 2002 – Michigan Privatization Report
In April 1995, the state created the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA), an agency empowered to issue tax credits to companies that promise to expand in or relocate to, Michigan. The evidence from seven years of MEGA operation suggests that Michigan has enjoyed economic development in spite of MEGA, not because of it.
… morePublished on April 5, 2002
As the Detroit Tigers take to the field in their home opener Friday, we would like to recommend a new statistic-perhaps a new category of statistics-for baseball's number crunchers: the subsidies-to-victories ratio.
… morePublished on April 4, 2002
![[Photo of Michael D. LaFaive]](/media/images/people/LaFaiveMed.jpg)
