![[Photo of Jarrett Skorup]](/media/images/people/JSkorrup-MED.jpg)
Jarrett Skorup
Research Associate
Jarrett Skorup is a research associate at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is a graduate of Grove City College with degrees in history and political science. He also studied economics and religion.
While there, he was captain of the Grove City wrestling and Ultimate Frisbee teams. He was a student fellow at the Center for Vision & Values, the school's research and scholarship think tank.
An Illinois native, Skorup is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls. Besides studying and writing about public policy, he coaches and officiates high school wrestling.
Skorup is the content manager for Michigan Capitol Confidential. His writings have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, MLive, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Orange County Register, Manchester Union-Leader, Daily Caller, Townhall.com, National Review , America's Future Foundation - Doublethink and many newspapers across the country. He lives in Midland, MI with his wife, Karen and son, Grayson.
By Jarrett Skorup
Corporate Welfare a Continual Failure
Time for government to focus on the basics. … more
Films or Potholes?
Hollywood corporate welfare could be used to fix roads. … more
Of Course Merit Pay Is a Good Idea
Time for public schools to catch on. … more
Oakland Schools and the Tri-County Alliance
Focused on more money, less parental choice. … more
Head Start a False Start
Follow the research to help low-income students … more
SEIU Tries to Continue Dues Scheme
Leaked document maps out 'dues skim' plan. … more
Why Film Subsidies Must Go
Independent studies show Hollywood corporate welfare a bust. … more
House Budget Puts Roads Above Film Subsidies
But some Republicans want to protect corporate welfare. … more
Public School Lobbying Worse Than 'Skunk Works'
Concerns about "backroom dealings" insincere. … more
Time to Overhaul Auto Insurance Laws
New proposal worth consideration. … more
Subsidies Drive Up College Costs
State should decrease subsidies, force schools to compete. … more
Higher Scrutiny of Government 'Investments'
Mascoma pulls IPO, questionable subsidies remain. … more
Media Ignores Costs In Film Coverage
Lawmakers exchange bad policy for Hollywood glitz. … more
Michigan Taxpayers Already Paid for 'Oz'
Disney gets $40 million subsidy; has $4.8 billion profit. … more
Big Business Supports Minimum Wage Hikes
Lobbying intended to hurt mom-and-pop competitors. … more
Union Time on Your Dime
Taxpayers still funding union work on school time. … more
College Subsidies Redistribute from Poor to Rich
Graduation rates unchanged despite increased aid. … more
The Facts on Subsidized College Degrees
More government spending equals higher costs. … more
Road Funding or Film Subsidies?
GOP legislators have hard time prioritizing. … more
More Is Never Enough
When it comes to public school funding. … more
UAW Prez: SEIU ‘Dues Skim’ More Important Than RTW
A candid interview reveals stealth unionizations were key. … more
Media's Assumption About Government Spending
Cuts are always bad, more spending is always good. … more
Robots Are Good
Productivity and efficiency bring prosperity. … more
SEIU Dues Skim Surpasses $34 Million
Scheme comes to an end Feb. 28; legal challenges continue. … more
Unions Fight to Use Dues for Politics
Not all the money goes toward collective bargaining. … more
Media Skews Charter Public School Study
Reporters ignore large student gains. … more
Government Is Different From Unions
The fallacy of a 'right-to-live' law. … more
Right-to-Work Gives Teachers a Choice
Association of American Educators offers an option. … more
Terrible Track Record
Government's "green" venture caplitalism experiment a failure. … more
Union Steward Paid $100K By Taxpayers Attends Rally Advocating Against Them
Union steward compares right-to-work bill with Hitler. … more
Easy Rider
The data doesn't always tell the story on motorcycle crashes. … more
The Intellectual Firepower Against Right-to-Work
Who's who on right-to-work. … more
Taxpayer-Funded Stadiums a Lose-Lose Proposition
If Ilitch wants new home for Red Wings, he should pay for it. … more
The Human Side of Right-to-Work Legislation
Real people who have been hurt by forced unionization. … more
Michigan Still Worse Economically Than RTW Oklahoma
Michigan Education Association props up faulty numbers. … more
The 'Pro Big Business' Myth Put to Rest
Center a lone voice against corporate welfare for 25 years. … more
Another Look at Hydraulic Fracturing
State should embrace safe, inexpensive energy source. … more
MEA Misleads on Oklahoma Right-to-Work Numbers
An honest discussion will require honest numbers. … more
Prop 4 Not About Home Care
It's about the SEIU taking money from vulnerable residents. … more
Prop 2 Supporters Putting Out Questionable Info
Campaign of misinformation exposed by Center analysts. … more
Prop 3 Can't Change the Laws of Economics
No matter how badly supporters want to think it can. … more
Proposal 2 Is Not Simply About Collective Bargaining
Prop 2 ballot language underlines political agenda. … more
Prop 4 Op-Ed in Detroit Free Press Ungrounded
Platitudes, falsities and "faux outrage." … more
Dead Batteries
LG Chem workers "have nothing to do." … more
A123 Files for Bankruptcy
Yet another failure of central planning. … more
Schools Create Their Own FOIA Interpretation
Prop 2 would make government even less transparent. … more
Prop 2 Would Change at Least 170 Laws
Big labor trying to make a difference without distinction. … more
MEDC Removes Video of Obama, Top Dems Praising Failed Battery Company
A123 had been touted by President Obama, Gov. Granholm. … more
NEA Recognizes Need for STEM Teachers
But won't budge on salary flexibility. … more
Sticky Data in Item Pricing 'Study'
Michigan Citizen Action opposes technology, productivity. … more
Is the Horseshoer on Strike?
Detroit union goes on strike; ignores $6 billion debt. … more
State, Nation Have a Long Way to Go
Two new reports detail economic ranking of Michigan, U.S. … more
Do Prop 4 Supporters Know What It's About?
Disability advocate appears confused on ballot measure. … more
Which Ballot Proposals Are 'Grassroots'?
A look at who is behind the Nov. 6 ballot proposals. … more
Economic Development a Campaign Tool
Subsidies help politicians look like they're "doing something." … more
SEIU Dues Skim All About Politics
SEIU president reveals political agenda at DNC convention. … more
SEIU Ballot Language Disconnected From Reality
Line-by-line look at the ballot proposal. … more
Film Subsidy Money Has to Come From Somewhere
It's like "feeding sparrows through a horse." … more
Commentary: A Different Kind of 'Waste'
Detroit Water and Sewage Dept. and government unions. … more
SEIU Ballot Proposal Raises Questions
Union has skimmed $30 million from caregivers. … more
Teacher's Pet
School employees shouldn't get special treatment on pensions. … more
Emergency Managers Are Bad, Bankruptcy Far Worse
EM's a less painful alternative for desperate cities. … more
Jobs Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Licensing and regulation overkill hurts job market. … more
Minimum Wage, Maximum Harm
Why Michigan's minimum wage shouldn't be increased. … more
Taxpayers Pay Twice for Union 'Release Time'
Union bosses doing union work on taxpayers' dime. … more
'Green' Energy Agenda Exposed
It's not really about energy at all. … more
Paint by Numbers
State licensing mandates unnecessary, burdensome. … more
GOP Budget Spends More on Film Subsidies
Republicans want to keep giving your money to Hollywood. … more
Corporate Welfare Backers Change Tune
Subsidies now about "groundwork" after jobs fail to materialize. … more
Same Old Story on Energy Policy
Politicians show continued folly of central planning. … more
Other Big State Universities Tighten Their Belts — U-M Has Much To Learn
OSU and Kentucky Cut Back; U-M Has Much to Learn … more
Commentary: Tourism Study Flawed
State needs to abandon subsidy favors. … more
Why Don't Superintendents Have Tenure?
No public employees should have it. … more
Train Wreck: Amtrak Is a Case Study in Government Waste
Subsidies for Amtrak, other rail projects should end. … more
Dues and Don'ts
No one should be forced to pay dues to any organization. … more
Majority Rule
An overwhelming majority of economists side with liberty. … more
The Rich Are Getting Richer; So Are the Poor
Data trumps emotion ... again. … more
Pot, Meet Kettle
Subsidized solar firms decry solar subsidies ... in China. … more
Hall of Fame Quarterback Connects With CapCon
Fran Tarkenton contrasts the NFL and public schools. … more
It's Not Easy Subsidizing Green
Goverment should stop wasting money on green jobs. … more
More GOP Backlash Against Recall-Happy MEA?
State Senate pushing deeper school reforms lately. … more
How Federal Money Doesn't Translate Into Jobs
Who spends money better, the government or private individuals? … more
Who Is the Real Target?
Government union involvement in recalls is a dangerous trend. … more
Teachers' Unions vs. Schoolchildren
The NAACP teams up with a New York City teachers' union to shut down charter schools for low-income students. … more
Selective Economics
Some argue that taxpayer bailouts of favored corporations create jobs, but that business tax cuts do not. … more
Tax Cuts vs. School Spending
Spending more on schools doesn't guarantee better results. … more
Michigan Budget Helps the Afflicted
The governor's budget proposal would relieve the afflicted at the expense of the protected. … more
Brownfield Credits Are No Level Playing Field
There is nothing “fair” about unelected boards deciding which companies pay higher taxes and which companies pay less. … more
Who Benefits From Lower Business Taxes?
Just as individuals respond to changes in their personal financial situations, businesses, too, are affected. And taxing business will surely give us less of it. … more
Natural Disasters Are Good?
It is only when you ignore the unseen that one can see a disaster that killed 6,000 people and left 300,000 homeless as a positive economic event. … more
A Tip on the Effects of Raising the Sub-Minimum Wage
Legislation introduced in Congress would increase the minimum wage for restaurant servers and other tipped workers. But raising the minimum wage, as Congress has done repeatedly the past few years, almost always generates unemployment higher than it would otherwise be, and is a net loss for society and the poor. … more
A Lesson on Public-Sector Unions
With public employee unions throwing tantrums in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan over proposed budget cuts, it’s worth remembering that no matter how out of whack they get, government employee compensation levels will never be enough for these unions. This attitude is in the DNA of public-sector unions, and it defines their reason for existing. … more
Government Is Not a Jobs Bank
Regardless of what the public employee unions believe they are entitled to, Michigan taxpayers and businesses are not getting better service despite paying higher costs. The purpose of government is to provide necessary services for the least cost, not provide a jobs program and wealth transfer from the people to public employees and their unions. … more
Tax Hikes Chase Jimmy John's From Illinois
While Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches had planned to expand in its hometown of Champaign, Ill., new massive tax hikes from the Illinois Legislature are sending Jimmy John's looking to relocate in more business-friendly states. … more
Illinois Jobs Coming to Michigan?
Early this week, on its last day of session, a lame-duck Illinois Legislature passed a 67-percent income tax increase, along with large business and corporate tax hikes. The measure was approved by just a single vote, and was shrouded in backroom deals and payoffs to constituency groups across the board. The Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial the following day had a short headline: “Goodbye, Jobs.” … more
The Rose-Colored Glasses of Political Dusk
Despite political spin, Michiganders shouldn't be convinced that the economy right in front of their faces is a sign of progress. … more
Don't Tenure Current Teacher Tenure Law
The Michigan Legislature recently debated a modest teacher tenure reform bill that passed in the Senate but then died when the House failed to act. The issue will surely return in the 2011 session, and when it does, lawmakers should consider the following:
Under current law, it is nearly impossible to fire a tenured teacher, no matter how ineffective. … more
Under current law, it is nearly impossible to fire a tenured teacher, no matter how ineffective. … more
Ethanol for Duckies
In the waning days of the lame-duck Congress, a bipartisan fight is brewing over federal handouts to encourage production of corn ethanol, with competing letters urging the continuation or end of these subsidies. … more
Does Anyone Still Believe in Ethanol?
While speaking overseas this week, former presidential candidate Al Gore took some questions about corn-based ethanol. So what does the green guru think about the fuel that was supposed to wean us off of foreign oil and cut carbon emissions? … more
