Friday's Wall Street Journal has a piece by Eric Felten on a "dark skies" movement seeking to define outdoor lighting as a form of "pollution," and pass laws to boss people around regarding their choice about how to light up their own property. Fortunately, Michigan's political class is immune to such misguided notions.
Hillsdale offers severance "Hillsdale Community Schools is offering severance packages to teachers and support personnel who retire now as a way to save money in the long run."
Yesterday on his Fox television show, Glenn Beck described public policy changes along a spectrum from right to left, dubbing the range of current policies “the Overton Window.” He borrowed the term my colleagues and I gave to a theory of change developed by the Mackinac Center’s late vice president, Joseph Overton.
MEGA Madness and Big Labor Contradictions Ironically, a special tax break offered by the state of Michigan to a for-profit arm of the Service Employees International Union was arranged in part to address the union's complaint that it is at a disadvantage due to Michigan's "high labor costs" compared to two other states the SEIU was supposedly considering (one of them with a right-to-work law reviled by the union). This according to a document obtained by Detroit News business writer Daniel Howes ("State tax credit to labor union is baffling," Nov. 20).
Division apparent on health care pool "The University of Michigan believes that a
plan to create a single health insurance pool for all public employees is
unconstitutional, firefighters believe it's unwise, but the president of
Lansing Community College sees it as the right moral choice."
At a press conference Tuesday announcing several new recipients of discriminatory state tax breaks, Gov. Jennifer Granholm repeated a number of false or misleading statements about this state government's policy of picking winners and losers, and its effects as a substitute for genuine labor, regulatory and tax law reforms.
Jackson eyes insurance changes "Jackson Public Schools is investigating
switching insurance carriers, self-funding or asking all employee groups to
agree to higher deductibles and co-pays as ways to spend less on health
insurance."
New Tax on Garbage Should Be Trashed Contrary to rhetoric often heard, Michigan has no shortage of landfill space. Many local communities welcome local landfills in their area due to the jobs they bring as well as tax revenue generated from the facilities.
Michigan politicians are fond of blaming the domestic auto industry's decline for all the state's problems. But "auto industry" just doesn't mean what it used to here. For example, domestic auto sales have fallen by 49.8 percent since their 1999 peak. Over the same period, however, inflation-adjusted state tax and fee revenues have only declined by 15.9 percent.
While Michigan's school funding "crisis" rages on, the Alabama Board of Education just came up with a plan to balance the state's education budget in one day.
An unusual joint hearing occurring right now of two state House committees on Michigan's film subsidy program brought to mind a letter received last summer from Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office. The letter was in response to a Mackinac Center press release describing how the subsidy program may actually destroy jobs.
Dear Legislators: It has come to my attention that you will be meeting today to discuss the Michigan film incentive program. As you consider the testimony and documents presented by various parties, be advised that certain items with seemingly pristine pedigrees may be deeply flawed.
Educators review budget options "Not yet certain whether they will face a
$127 per-pupil cut in December, school administrators are reviewing their
choices for dealing with it."
Apparently in terms of federal stimulus money and thousands of new jobs allegedly created, the luckiest place in Michigan to live is in the 48933 zip code. According to the U.S. Postal Service website, 48933 is none other than Lansing, our state capital.
"Pirate Radio," in theaters now, is a silly and inconsequential movie that represents a missed opportunity to show the negative impacts of government overreaching into what should be a private enterprise. In this instance, British government bureaucrats stymie a broadcast outlet for rock music in the mid-1960s.
A pattern of sorts is starting to emerge: When one hears numbers of “jobs created or saved” by various government programs, it appears to be more and more likely that such numbers were pulled by someone out of the vicinity of his or her own back pocket.
John Hood at National Review Online yesterday called Michigan the "epicenter of the fiscal earthquake," referring to the overspending crisis created by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Legislature.
Charters gain market share "More than one-third of the students who
live within Detroit Public Schools boundaries attended a public charter school
in 2008-2009."
A Detroit Examiner columnist Friday cited Michael Van Beek, the Center's director of education policy, on Michigan's refusal to pursue school reforms that could help the state secure federal funding.
Thursday's Wall Street Journal carried an articleabout Republican candidates for federal offices who are favored by establishment GOP power brokers, and how these candidates are suddenly finding themselves on the business end of the grassroots "Tea Party" opposition in many states. The article notes that this is creating heartburn for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee because the GOP was behind finding these more establishment-minded politicians in the first place and now can't sell them to even the GOP primary voters.
A study co-authored almost a year ago by Michael D. LaFaive, director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative at the Center, continues to garner media attention.
If Michigan's governor and Legislature insist on taking more from families to solve the state's self-created overspending crisis, they should at least tell those families where to trim their budgets.
More Flint students in charters "More than one-third of the students who live within Detroit Public Schools
boundaries attended a public charter school in 2008-2009."
There is nothing “liberal” — as opposed to partisan — about defending the perks of a privileged class of government and school employees over the interests of taxpaying families and business owners.
How do we fix Michigan? Changing the incentives that make members of the political class behave in ways that accelerate the Detroitification of Michigan is key.
'Live Free or Die' State Chooses 'Die' New Hampshire’s inspiring state motto is a tribute to individualism, but it shines a bit less brightly today after the state offered to guarantee part of a “loan” to an ailing newspaper. That’s a mistake, and if the “Live Free or Die” state has any doubt they should look to the record of the Great Lake state.
Flanagan: Solve your differences "State school Superintendent Michael
Flanagan asked lawmakers and teachers unions Thursday to settle their
differences and clear the way for Michigan to apply for up to $400 million in
federal funding for public schools."
A recent Detroit Free Press editorial too easily dismisses Gov. Jennifer Granholm's now infamous 2006 quip, "you'll be blown away" ("Granholm an unfortunate victim of her own words," Nov. 11). They did so by truncating the full sentence and arguing that it was simply "delivered as an inspiration."
Data Mining A look at mining issues and water regulation.
This wouldn’t be the first time Detroit city employee unions turned a blind eye toward graft. Did the unions ever register any protests about how the boards operated?
Since Proposal A of 1994, inflation-adjusted total revenue for public
schools grew by 33 percent. What have we got for this investment? The chart
below provides some answers.
Public Sector Unions — The New Tammany Hall Yesterday, I described an analysis performed by Mackinac Center scholars finding a correlation between public sector unionism, faster government spending growth and weaker state employment growth. The history and actual mechanism by which these sad outcomes have been realized were detailed last month in a Weekly Standard piece by professors Fred Siegel and Dan DiSalvo called, "The New Tammany Hall: Public sector unions have become a labor aristocracy — and they are bankrupting states and municipalities."
Last August, the Mackinac Center released a study critical of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. This was the second of two rigorous analyses of MEGA by the Center, and both found that - at best - the program has had no net positive job creation impact. Indeed, the latest results suggest that the program may actually destroy jobs. Not surprisingly MEGA apologists have bristled, and when compelled to respond, have done so with what could charitably be called a series of untruths about the program.
ReImagine winners named "Thirteen school districts have been
selected as Project ReImagine winners by the
Michigan Department of Education, meaning they likely would receive a
share of any Race to the Top education money coming to Michigan."
Politico's Ben Smith passed along the story about the $7 million fee the Michigan Department of State Police would charge to fulfill the Mackinac Center's Freedom of Information Act request.
Advocates of higher taxes frequently claim that Michigan's tax system is "out of sync" with the current economy, and needs to be "restructured" in ways that ensure more steady (and larger) extraction of revenues. But when it comes to extracting revenue from a declining tax base, Michigan has been taking a larger proportion of the population's wealth and income, not less. It's also been "outcompeting" other states in this regard.
A new report from the Pew Center on the States, Beyond California (pdf), erroneously suggests that Michigan's economic travails are due to the fall of the auto industry and the presence of what it characterizes as an "out of sync" tax system.
A Bay City Times editorial enthusiastically echoed the Mackinac Center's rallying cry for government transparency: "Show Michigan the Money." The Times goes on to ask, "Why not require [public posting of financial information] of all agencies and governments that receive taxpayer money? It’s the public’s money they are pending, [sic] and taxpayers have the right to see where it is going."
The Mackinac Center's recent analysis of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. elicited some misleading or erroneous responses from MEDC officials. Although the MEDC is supposed to be about economic development, its true mission is political, and so its pronouncements should be viewed with the same skepticism as ones from politicians.
Panel would review school boundaries "A state representative wants to create an advisory panel to review public
school district boundaries and recommend where consolidation or division makes
financial sense."
States with laws giving government employee unions greater power tend to have less economic growth and more government spending growth, according to a recent analysis by Mackinac Center scholars. The degree of public sector unionism is one of a number of theories for what causes some states to grow while others suffer economic decline, one that acquires additional weight thanks to this analysis. Policymakers looking to reverse Michigan's decade-long decline should not ignore the role these laws may play.
Obesity is a real problem, but if there’s a public health problem that can be addressed with the sort of top-down, one-size-fits-all approach that is typical for government, obesity is not it.
The road to hell is paved with the shells from proverbial eggs broken in the service of producing an idealized omelet. In the case of Grand Traverse County, enough eggs are being broken to warrant the attention of the folks at the Guinness Book of World Records.
Only in America can researchers lament the availability of inexpensive food. Instead of appreciating how amazing it is that America's poorest are too fat, a recent paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research hints that minimum wages should be raised to take away Americans' access to abundant, cheap food.
With much talk about school budgets and per-pupil costs of public education in Michigan, there's bound to be plenty of questions and assumptions made about our school funding system. Here's a breakdown of two common myths about one of the most misunderstood concepts — the foundation allowance.
When you "dance with government," be prepared to get stepped on.
Stimulus money: Now or later? "In
the short term, the debate over school funding in Michigan will revolve around
whether to use federal stimulus dollars to fill this year's state budget
overspending crisis or next year's."
$6,876,303.90, to be exact. That's what the Michigan Department of State Police is charging for more than two million pages of documentation I requested via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regarding the state's handling of federal homeland security grant money from 2002 to present. This is definitely a record for Mackinac Center FOIA requests. In fact, this may be a record for any FOIA request.
Universities pay for Promise "At least four state universities
have announced they will pick up part of the tab for rescinded Michigan Promise
Scholarships."
MichiganScience No. 11 MichiganScience is a Mackinac Center quarterly magazine that helps meet the need for accurate and accessible information about the increasingly complex scientific issues confronting voters and lawmakers. The magazine reflects the idea that even the most technical scientific policy issues can be discussed with lively prose and compelling visuals.
Assuming an average class size of 25 students, the $292 per-pupil cut currently debated in the Legislature means that each classroom in the state will have to make do with $7,300 less funding. It’s easy to picture classrooms without enough textbooks, pencils or chalk. The reality, though, is that comparatively schools spend very little on classroom supplies such as these.
Michigan: “A+” for Corporate Welfare, “F” for Economic Growth The appproach Michigan politicians have mainly chosen to show that they're "doing something" about the state's ongoing economic decline is a massive expansion of discriminatory tax breaks and subsidies for particular firms. The failure of such programs has created another political need, which is a way to demonstrate that this approach really isn't a waste of time and money. Enter the annual Governor's Cup ranking by Site Selection magazine, which is considered the "company paper" for government "economic development" bureaucracies around the country.
What a Web Tax Collectors Weave The Nov. 6 edition of the Gongwer Michigan Report (subscription required) describes a new "bulletin" from the Michigan Department of Treasury defining which foods are considered "prepared" and thus subject to the state sales tax — and which are not: Donuts with a napkin are, but donuts with waxed paper are not. And so on. Such hair-splitting may be a foretaste of what we can expect if this state ever imposes a sales tax on services.
A bipartisan package of bills in the Michigan Senate is poised to protect consumers from the tragedy of bad interior design. The legislation may or may not succeed in that, but it certainly will protect interior designers from the tragedy of more competition generating lower prices for consumers.
U Prep to pay for college "University Preparatory High School, a charter
public school in Detroit, will pay nearly the full cost of the first year of
college for any of its 124 seniors who are eligible."
Teacher elected to school board "A classroom teacher has been elected to the
school board in the Pontiac School District, though whether that constitutes a conflict
of interest remains a question."
Voters turn down new school tax "Voters in Washtenaw County turned down a
new school tax on Tuesday, an outcome which will force area districts to find
ways to spend less."
Where's the Love for Our Fiscally Conservative Governor? If one just looks just at the effect of her school budget cut actions and ignores the motivations, Gov. Jennifer Granholm looks like a fiscal conservative's hero right now. So where's the love? For that matter, where's the love for taxpayers from the 12 Republicans and 62 Democrats who voted yesterday to appropriate federal "stimulus" dollars plus money from proposed tax hikes to "undo" the Governor's school spending reductions?
Bad Medicine Washington's health care prescription will make Michigan's budget even sicker.
Judge: Flint can leave MESSA "Flint Community Schools can change health
insurance providers for teachers despite their protests, a Genesee County judge
has ruled."
House committee: Spend stimulus now "Public schools would avoid most of a $127 per-pupil
cut in December, but likely face deeper cuts in the future, if the state
Legislature agrees to spend education stimulus dollars this year instead of next."
Russ Harding on WTCM Russ Harding, director of the Property Rights Network at the Mackinac Center, was a guest today on "The Norm Jones Show" on WTCM in Traverse City.
Grand Ledge eyes spending cuts "Responding to potential state aid cuts,
Grand Ledge Public Schools administrators have proposed closing two elementary
buildings, eliminating 53 positions, ending high school bus service, downsizing
sports and band programs and seeking $558,000 in employee concessions."
Is Green the New Color of Fraud? A new report out of Oregon alleges fraud and intentional deception on the part of state officials in their rush to use taxpayer money to lure green jobs to Oregon. The Oregonian reports that state officials deliberately underestimated the cost of tax payer subsidies for green energy projects, resulting in a cost 40 times greater than estimates provided to Oregon lawmakers before they voted on the tax breaks. Findings include:
Two recalls in Romeo "Five of seven Romeo Community Schools
board members have been named in two separate recall efforts, with a school
closing and privatization as key issues."
Water Initiative All About Banning Mining Michigan voters should not be fooled by the latest effort of environmental groups, called "Mi Water," that purportedly would regulate mining in the state. The ballot proposal does not regulate mining inasmuch as it effectively bans future mining in Michigan.
Candy giveaway part of larger plan "Pontiac School District teachers were
to hand out Halloween candy in front of district schools Saturday as part of a
larger effort to entice parents and students back to the district."
Anti-millage signs removed, replaced "An Ann Arbor "community standards
officer" took down anti-school millage signs in front of a township residence,
only to learn that he was outside his jurisdiction."
More students in meals programs "More students have signed up for reduced-cost
meals in Muskegon-area public schools, likely reflecting parental unemployment
but also because students don't know any more who among them gets free lunch."
Not As Good As You Think A new report by the National Center for Education Statistics contains some bad news for Michigan schools. When compared to proficiency standards on national tests, Michigan's self-proclaimed "proficient" students score near the bottom in the country.
Superintendent: State should cap health costs "Rather than placing all public employees in
a single health care pool, a west Michigan school superintendent suggests the
state save money by capping the amount governmental units can pay for health
care plans, or by requiring employees to pay a percent of their health
insurance premium."
The Horror of It All The U.S. House of Representatives has just posted on the Internet its health care overhaul bill, HR 3962, “To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, etc.” All 1990 impenetrable pages of it. But this bill isn’t just longer than a Stephen King novel, it’s also scarier, because aside from the title, this tome is all nonfiction.
Successful Film Incentive Would Drain Entire Treasury In response to a question from Jon Boguth in Time on what makes Michigan's existing businesses less worthy of tax relief than film producers, Gov. Jennifer Granholm responded, "You can't give tax credits to everybody, because somebody's gotta pay for them." It's a clear admission that the program is not costless. And because the film incentive is so generous, the costs of "success" would be massive.
Some Politicians Want It Both Ways on Environment Politicians are often anxious to been seen as "green" as they support stringent environmental standards and mandates. Unfortunately, they often ignore the costs of those measures — that is until those costs come home to roost in their own districts.
Taxpayer Debt to Pay Government Retiree Health Benefits Legislators loading (more) debt onto taxpayers to pay the health benefits of retired government employees may make many voters wonder who these pols really work for. That's the purpose of Senate Bill 927, introduced by Republican Senators Mark Jansen, Bill Hardiman and Roger Kahn. The reality the government employee unions and members want to avoid with such schemes is that there's not enough money in the world to pay these benefits, so the only questions are how big a "haircut" they'll get and when will the pols summon the guts to make the cuts.
Michael LaFaive Rebuttal in Detroit News Michael LaFaive, director of fiscal policy, responded today to a Detroit News story that distorted information contained in a recent policy brief written by Gary Wolfram, Ph.D., a Hillsdale College professor and Mackinac Center adjunct scholar.
Bobb staying on at DPS "Robert Bobb will stay on another year as emergency
financial manager in Detroit Public Schools."
MEGA Stories Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Greg Main boasted that he "would invite (critics) to take a look at the results (of the MEGA targeted tax break program)." We did. Twice. In depth and detail. We found that - at best - MEGA creates no new jobs, and on balance it may even destroy them on a net basis. Further, only 29 percent of the direct jobs promised by its deals ever happened. To date, the MEDC has not refuted a single point of fact, or produced independent, systematic evidence that its approach does squat to create jobs, increase state incomes or expand our economy.
Some American politicians frequently tout the European model as a shining example of energy policy, citing government policies there promoting alternative energy over the past decade. Recent studies out of Spain and Germany, however, indicate that those two countries have been successful in increasing the amount of alternative energy but at a high cost to their economies.
"Slashing" Economic Development Staff? Please Sir, Can We Have Some More? The Michigan Economic Development Corporation — the lead agency in a statewide "economic development" empire — is arguably the most ineffective, least necessary department in state government. Shrinkage of the agency's staff is good news; staff levels reaching zero would be excellent news! Alas, declines reported by a recent Detroit News article aren't quite what they appear to be.
Graduated Income Taxes Hurt State Growth Some pitching for a graduated state income tax argue that it wouldn't really matter that much for Michigan's economy. Wrong! Tax structure matters a great deal — in some cases perhaps as much as the total amount that state and local governments extract from families, entrepreneurs and investors. The most persuasive scholarly literature on the subject concludes that badly structured taxes hurt economic growth and drive away people and businesses.
A Real Canadian Health Care Experience The Mackinac Center sponsored a luncheon Oct. 26 in Troy where attendees had a chance to meet some of the "stars" of the Center's recent YouTube video series in which Canadian citizens describe the problems they have had with their country's single-payer health care system. Two of those individuals are Shirley McGuin and Mike Jubenville.
Preschool: Some more worried than others "A preschool administrator in Saginaw County
said the budget reduction his program faces is potentially "devastating," but
one in Midland County said increased enrollment may make up for state-level
cuts."
Jobs Braggadocio The Granholm Administration wasted no time after the Michigan Economic Growth Authority monthly rubber-stamp board meeting on Tuesday to start pumping out press releases bragging that more than 2,800 new jobs were coming to Michigan as a result of selective tax break deals for the latest gaggle of "winner" firms and projects. The MEGA-related jobs claims should be discounted by 71 percent, based on a recent Mackinac Center study that found only 29 percent of the jobs promised by past MEGA deals actually happened.
Leaving Some Key Facts Behind Governor Granholm and certain quarters of the state media have been very excited by a recent report from the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth extolling the success of the No Worker Left Behind Program, but the report leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
Reed Receives JA Honor Lawrence W. Reed, president emeritus of the Mackinac Center, will be inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Wednesday night, according to the Midland Daily News.
Latest Charter School Expansion Bid: Pay Ransom The legislative defenders of this state’s public school unions and establishment — including horrendously failing school districts like Detroit’s — recognize that they can no longer just stand in the schoolhouse door blocking the exit of students seeking a real education someplace where learning actually occurs. So they've introduced several bills that tepidly move in the direction of expanding the number of charter schools. The latest twist on getting this signed into law is to offer "ransom" payments to the same failing school districts that have created the need.
Michigan Government Grows Despite State Budget Woes At the state level, government revenues and spending may be falling, but new Census Bureau evidence - considered the "gold standard" in such things, suggests that the overall revenues and spending of all units of government in Michigan have never been higher.
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
NCLB case dismissed "A lawsuit against the No Child Left Behind Act — brought by the Pontiac School District and others — has been dismissed, though the National Education Association could appeal."
How Big Is Michigan's Government, Really? The Detroit News on Saturday published an article in which reporter Ron French compiled various indicators to suggest that Michigan state government is smaller now than at the start of this decade (“Michigan’s shrinking government”). Actually, gross state spending during this decade rose a modest 3.4 percent after adjusting for inflation, while the state's economy shrunk by 3.3 percent.
Center Media Highlights Transparency, spending, health care and the state’s budget process were the topics of several media stories involving the Mackinac Center in the last few days.
Illness affects MEAP schedule "Flu has taken its toll on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program, as nearly 200 schools across the state closed due to sickness for at least part of the annual test week."
Ten Things to Look for in Health Care Reform Disguised as “reform,” numerous health care proposals are finding support in Congress. The result is a mishmash of plans that do little to improve access, quality or cost. There are at least 10 criteria that provide a foundation for reform.
Career courses now offer academic credit "Students enrolled in the Genesee
Area Skills
Center Technology
Center now may earn
academic credit through career or technology courses taken there."
Doctor Shortages Coming to a Country Near You Some ObamaCare proponents have claimed that the Mackinac Center's YouTube videos documenting the human cost of Canadian doctor shortages are off base, because the bills in Congress don't create the same system as Canada's. They are both right and wrong - the bills would create a system different in its details, but one with the same dysfunctions, generated by reproducing here the same skewed incentives. Allyssia Finley spells out the details in today's Wall Street Journal, "Obama's Doctor Shortage."
Since April 2008, Michigan has given qualified film productions up to 42 cents on the dollar for every expense they incur in the state. While the state is able to point to a number of films and projects given assistance from this program, the state's motion production and sound recording industries employ fewer people now than when the subsidy began.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan's movie and sound industries employ 5,222 workers as of March 2009, the most recent month available from the quarterly census of employment and wages. This industry declined by 31.2 percent from a peak in 2002 of 7,586. And even at its peak, this industry accounted for only .2 percent of the state's total employment.
A news report from Detroit TV station WDIV seems to indicate that a $146 million film production studio has instead become a boondoggle for the city of Allen Park.
Shanghai Surprise: The Unionization of Home Day Care Providers Michelle Malkin said it best when she said, "The Culture of Corruption has never hit so close to home." The prominent author, blogger and commentator was referring in a recent blog post to a shady scheme to shanghai Michigan's home day care providers into a newly-formed, dues-paying labor union. Last month, the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation exposed this scheme in its first lawsuit, Loar v. DHS.
Center Cited on Prevailing Wage Frank Beckmann, host of “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR AM760, cited the Mackinac Center in his weekly Detroit News column today.
Coincident Indicator? This chart might be called the "Political Class Desperation Index." The need for transformational reform of Michigan's tax, spending, labor and regulatory environments is indicated by the skyrocketing unemployment rate. The failure of the political class to buck special interests — including government employee unions — and finally undertake those reforms makes its members increasingly desperate to create the appearance of "doing something." Thus the massive increase in futile picking of winners (and losers) for receipt of discriminatory tax breaks and subsidies. These create diversionary "feel good" stories for local newpapers, but do nothing to reverse the state's economic decline — and may even accelerate it. ("MEGA" is the flagship program of Michigan's bureaucratic "economic development" empire.)
Urgent Care I am a registered nurse at Genesys hospital near Flint, where the RNs and licensed practical nurses who do direct patient care are represented by the Teamsters. I believe the union-fostered attitude at our hospital works against teamwork. While Genesys is a great place to work, it would be even better if the union acted more professionally.
Granholm announces more school cuts "Public schools could face a $292-per-pupil
cut this year, up from last week's $165-per-pupil estimate, but there is
disagreement on the governor's motivation in announcing the higher amount as
well as disagreement over whether it is needed."
Latest MEGA Expansion Won’t Improve Michigan The Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the state's lead business incentive program, is primed for new amendments to raise the cap on the number of credits it can award this year. While there are some good transparency efforts in the bill, the state would be better served by eliminating the program and lowering taxes for every business.
The State Budget: Why the Wait? There's worse things than a state budget that gets done late. Consider what happened when they got it done on time.
Is it The Wall Street Journal or The Onion? This week, The Wall Street Journal published another critical examination of Michigan's political leadership, economy and budget. In a delicious irony, the online version posted a Michigan Economic Development Corp. advertisement featuring actor Jeff Daniels alongside the piece.
Governor pitches need for taxes "Gov. Jennifer Granholm made a pitch in
Brighton Wednesday for the "targeted tax revenue" she said is necessary to avoid
nearly doubling school budget cuts."
The Public Gets It on Climate Change. Why Don't Politicians? Forty-five percent of registered voters rated the economy as the most important issue in deciding their vote if the congressional election were held today, according to a news story in Politico; only 4 percent ranked climate change as the top issue. The poll conducted by Public Strategies Research Practice Group, a business advisory firm located in Austin, Texas, is consistent with other recent polling that shows global climate change low on the priority list of most Americans.
This Should Get Their Attention The City of Detroit has stopped collecting dues on behalf of 16 unions that have yet to reach new agreements with the city of Detroit. This is a provocative but much-needed step that serves to discipline city employee unions.
Timid Government "Efficiency" Commission Report: The Good, Bad & Ugly The Michigan "Legislative Commission on Government Efficiency" has released a draft of its final recommendations that fully meets the expectations raised by the "overarching conclusions" that were the subject of a post on this blog two days ago. (Short version: "Bureaucratic gobbledygook won't fix Michigan.") Here is the good, the bad and the ugly of the draft, with the magnitude of each weighted by font size:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released the September state-by-state unemployment rates. Michigan remains the highest in the country at 15.3 percent unemployment. This is the 43rd month in a row that Michigan has been the worst state for finding a job.
Mackinac Center in the Media Cigarette smuggling and student achievement drew two recent media mentions for Mackinac Center scholars.
Guns on campus up for debate "Addressing a House committee, some university
officials denounced a bill that would stop them from prohibiting concealed
weapons on campus."
The Michigan "Legislative Commission on Government Efficiency" has come out with a set of "overarching conclusions" that includes this gem:
Cross-cutting and underlying principles are the foundation of our recommendations — Look to optimize across all levels and units of government — Address underlying structural issues — Be holistic in the approach (look at all aspects of the budget and government operations) — Create a roadmap to fiscal stability
— Be of sufficient magnitude to make a difference
All clear now? Good — let's get on with it.
Seriously, these are the kind of vague generalities and bureaucratic gobbledygook where you can almost rearrange words in any particular order and they're no less meaningless.
In contrast, here's an example of what serious, concrete, specific recommendations for transformational reform really look like.
Governor nixes '20j' payments "Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed the
part of the state school budget that essentially protected school districts
from Proposal A losses."
Gov Jennifer Granholm has actually outdone the Mackinac Center with a cost saving measure enacted on Monday. Specifically, she line-item vetoed the so-called "Section 20(j)" appropriation in the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 K-12 School Aid Budget, which would have granted $54 million to 51 particular school districts that tend to be wealthier ones, with some exceptions. We recommended cutting half the amount in our Here's How to Save $2.2 Billion" series of articles beginning in 2006.
Foul Ball Some advice for the Detroit Tigers on the ticket tax: if you're going to oppose one proposed tax increase, you may as well oppose them all.
Center Cited on Jobs (or Lack Thereof) A new study by the Center's Michael LaFaive, director of fiscal policy, and James Hohman, fiscal research analyst, figured prominently in media coverage across Michigan Sunday and today highlighting Michigan's inability to create jobs, despite various programs, subsidies and other give-aways.
Teacher, district settle for $106,000 "A Byron Center Public Schools
special education teacher will receive $106,000 in a settlement agreement with
the school district."
Union nixes public bargaining "The bargaining team of the Howell Education Association turned down an offer
from the district to conduct contract negotiations in public, saying it would
not be productive."
Waldorf School helps with tuition "The Detroit Waldorf School has introduced a
Sustainable Tuition model intended to help parents afford its annual $12,500
tuition."
Among the forms of posturing by the political class is for its members to wrap themselves in a mantle of virtue by imposing the tenets of the latest trendy or politically correct social movement on students and others. Nowhere is the sanctimony more evident than in propagating "green" orthodoxy. Sometimes the pandering carries real economic consequences, and other times the tool is pure indoctrination, such as bills introduced last week to authorize new levels of green-ness in an existing "green school" statute (including "emerald level" and "evergreen level" green-ness), and to require drivers-ed classes to indoctrinate students in - to quote the language of the proposed law - "the importance of carpooling and using public transportation."
Mississippi Not Burning Gov. Jennifer Granholm took a gratuitous swipe at the state of Mississippi. The Mackinac Center takes a nuanced look at the Magnolia State's fortunes.
Summer of Discontent: Stimulus Money Leads to Payday Mayhem Hundreds and maybe even thousands of young people in Detroit apparently had to stand in lines and in the rain for up to four hours to receive paychecks for their summer jobs. Others did not know where to find their checks. Still others didn't get their paychecks at all. And on several occasions, police were called in for crowd control. The payday mayhem is just one of the many findings of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Michigan Is #7 in Income Growth, But... The Bureau of Economic Analysis released 2nd quarter personal income growth data. The figures include revenue from all wages, dividends, benefits and transfer payments, and shows which states are growing the most.Michigan grew a remarkable 7th among the states - positive news considering the state's long economic decline. At .7 percent, it wasn't much growth, but the US average was .2 percent.
A Better Choice: Patient-Centered Reform As members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee moved to approve Senator Max Baucus's health care reform bill, the Mackinac Center joined 33 state-based public policy groups in proposing a plan for "patient-centered health reform" that would improve health insurance access and options without creating an entirely new-and expensive-government bureaucracy. (View plan and signatories here.)
Superintendent: Teacher behavior ‘deplorable’ "An after-hours private party that allegedly involved drinking, marijuana use
and "drunk shaming" among Haslett Public Schools teachers has been denounced by
school officials, but no criminal charges were ever filed in the case."
Labor Issues Highlight Center Media Coverage Labor issues, including Michigan's Public Employee Relations Act and a lawsuit over forced union dues have been the focal point of the Mackinac Center's media coverage this week.
Teacher pay an election issue "Five of seven school board candidates in
Brighton Area Schools would consider freezing or cutting teacher pay as one way
to bring district spending in line with revenue."
Pushing on a String Yesterday, the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth announced that its “No Worker Left Behind” program had achieved its goal of enrolling 100,000 participants almost a year early ... This is good news if you don’t think about it too much.On closer inspection though it looks more like the state is pushing on a string.
Energy or Dirt? Environmental laws often have unintended consequences. The Michigan Legislature passed a bill that became law in 1995, requiring landfills to compost yard waste. Elected officials decided this was necessary to preserve landfill space - even though Michigan has plenty of landfill capacity for the foreseeable future. Composting produces dirt with high organic content, which is popular for gardens and landscaping (however more dirt is being produced than can be sold, resulting in the material being stockpiled at many landfills). Another problem is producing dirt comes at the expense of producing clean alternative energy.
Join the Mackinac Center as it journeys across Canada, documenting harrowing stories from real Canadians of long waits, physician shortages, doctor lotteries, special treatment for insiders and being forced to travel abroad for basic medical care. They're desperate for a way out. And they want YOU to know about it.
Introduction: "Oh. Canada?" - (First of six videos LIVE NOW) Meet the Canadians who have a warning for us (2:26) :
Join the Mackinac Center as it journeys across Canada, documenting harrowing stories from real Canadians of long waits, physician shortages, doctor lotteries, special treatment for insiders and being forced to travel abroad for basic medical care. They're desperate for a way out. And they want YOU to know about it.
Introduction: "Oh. Canada?" - (First of six videos LIVE NOW) Meet the Canadians who have a warning for us (2:26) :
Shared services may be in schools’ future "Consolidation of services is one
likely way public school districts will deal with future budget reductions, the
Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent told the school board recently."
The Silverdome is for sale because Pontiac can't afford to keep it. Michigan lawmakers think other cities need stadiums too.
How to Fix Michigan? Cut Cost of Living, Working and Investing Here On Oct. 9, 2009, Michael LaFaive, director of the Mackinac Center's Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, spoke at the invitation of Rep. Justin Amash, R-Kentwood, at an "Economic Town Hall" meeting convened by the representative. Here's what he told the participants:When I was first asked to participate here I was a bit taken back by the specificity of Representative Amash's request. He said, "Mike, my constituents have endured nearly a decade of bad news. I want you to tell them what we're doing right. Give them the good news." So, in conclusion let me say ...Obviously, I am joking but at the same time, I am not joking.
Roadmap to Nowhere Last week, while Michiganders shivered through more subnormal temperatures and watched their crop yields freeze from a summer of too-cool weather, a green echo chamber of media, government bureaucrats and activists gathered for a Midwest Governor's Association (MGA) conference in downtown Detroit to draw a "Midwestern Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Roadmap" to help Michigan navigate around . . . global warming.
Online high school growing "An online high school program
operated by Wyoming Public Schools is gaining popularity among students."
Most jobs 'saved' were in education "Nearly 75 percent of the 19,500
Michigan jobs "saved or created" by federal stimulus dollars to date
were in education."
Assumptions and Realities The"Center for Michigan" group has released a study showing that not all Michigan school districts are meeting the federally suggested 180-day school year. Underlying the length of the school year debate is the assumption that more time in school increases student achievement. Unfortunately, it doesn't.
Terror on the Boardman River As a senior in high school in 1976, I had the opportunity to view the 1968 Halloween horror film classic, "Night of the Living Dead" at the local university campus. A gentleman seated next to me asked for my opinion about halfway through the film, sparking a lengthy conversation on montage and mise-en-scene. The gentleman excused himself shortly thereafter, and appeared on stage as guest speaker upon the film's conclusion. The speaker was none other than the film's writer/director, George Romero. His last words to me before leaving were something along the lines of "You seem pretty sharp, kid. You might want to think about making horror movies yourself."
Little did I know it would take me more than 30 years to realize that kind advice. Instead of populating my latest video with flesh-eating zombies and serial killers, however, this Property Rights Network video relates the horrors experienced by property owners on the Boardman River outside Traverse City. Of the four dams on the river, three have been slated for removal by city and county officials.
Mackinac Center in the News Mackinac Center scholars were cited in four different newspapers - including one from North Carolina - on four different topics Friday, Sunday and today.
Colleges say evaluation is unfair "Marygrove College and the University of Detroit Mercy say their teacher preparation programs are being unfairly judged by a state evaluation process that could eventually put them out of the teacher training business."
One recipient of government business incentives is angry at the state for publishing an "absurd" value of those incentives, according to the Michigan Information & Research Service. The incident illustrates the need for transparency over the state's economic development efforts.
State Pols Fear Warming While Crops Freeze Maybe Michigan farmers suffering from low crop yields from yet another cold Midwest growing season can recoup their losses by renting out their fields to combat global warming with state-subsidized wind farms?
"Government Is Not Reason, It Is Force" Michigan's political class needs to protect government and school employee pay and benefits in the face of revenue shortfalls, so they're pushing tax hikes. Among the proposals are bills to levy sales tax on 20 percent of the bad debts suffered by merchants. Perhaps under the logic and principle of the law the tax should be paid on these, period. However, only going after 20 percent implicitly acknowledges the unfairness, and so sends the following message:"Never mind all that principle and equity stuff. We need the money, we have the power, you don't, too bad, now fork over!"
An estimated 35,000 city residents rushed the doors of Cobo Hall in a desperate attempt to grab 5,000 federal assistance applications made available to Detroit as part of the "Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program," a federal stimulus fund designed to help residents pay rent and utility bills.
The resulting chaos is symbolic not only of Detroit's plight but also of the wild lunge for free money that has been the hallmark of the $18 billion in stimulus money thrown at Michigan since last spring.
MEGA Database Updated The state's economic development department has stopped releasing important information about the state's flagship incentive program, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. To help make the program more transparent, the Mackinac Center requested documents about each credit awarded through this program and made them available online. You can view the updated database here.
Bing's Gambit Detroit Mayor Dave Bing may succeed in pushing city unions into accepting concessions this time, but ordinarily state labor law would give the unions the upper hand.
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has recommended outsourcing the management of the Coleman A. Young International Airport to save money,
as recommended by the Mackinac Center back in 1998. When we did so the city had recently provided the airport with a $1.9 million subsidy.
In 2007 (the latest year for which data is available), the subsidy was down to
$900,000, but the city's ability to afford any subsidy has collapsed
altogether. At this point, the city should investigate just completely unloading the airport with an outright sale.
Gov. Granholm, Tear Down the Anti-Coal Order Unemployed Michigan workers are being told by environmental groups and our governor that we should forgo shovel-ready construction jobs in building new, environmentally cleaner coal-fired power plants for the promise of jobs sometime in the future building windmills. Approximately 1500 construction workers gathered at the state capitol on October 6, demanding that Gov. Jennifer Granholm abandon her anti-coal bias and let them go to work. Most of the workers are unemployed and need a job — even if it isn't a politically correct green energy job that the governor and environmental groups seem to think they should have.
Moviemakers Risk Biting the Hand That Feeds Them While some in the Michigan Film Office, film industry and state government are quick to boast about the ever-increasing number of movie productions that have come to Michigan as a result of film tax subsidies, there have been some unforeseen and hard-learned lessons for some Michigan businesses, schools and organizations.
WJR's Paul W. Smith mentioned the Mackinac Center and policy analyst Ken Braun's analysis of public school teachers’ salaries during a radio interview of Nolan Finley of the Detroit News. (audio)
Gov. Granholm Takes Washington Post for Ride on “Jobs” Numbers In a profile that appeared in today's Washington Post, Gov. Jennifer Granholm misused data on her targeted business tax break and subsidy programs, the administration's primary response to a Michigan economy that has lost 632,600 payroll jobs since her inauguration back in 2003. The Post writes, "Since taking office in 2003, Granholm has created 163,300 positions, her office says," a reference to jobs directly attributable to business "incentive" programs. In fact, the most recent data indicates that MEGA, the state's flaghip corporate welfare program, can claim credit for just 7,755 new jobs during Gov. Granholm's six year, nine month tenure in office!
Combining Ag With DNR and DEQ Bad News for Farmers It appears to be a done deal that Michigan’s Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality will be combined into one agency. Now it appears that the Department of Agriculture may also be rolled into a new tripartite “super agency.” The very mention of this should frighten any Michigan resident involved in agriculture.
Mackinac Center in the News The Mackinac Center has been cited in various media outlets in the past few days.
Governor’s Michigan-Mississippi Comparison is Problematic In a press conference today, Mich. Governor Jennifer Granholm argued that tax hikes are necessary. "What we're fighting for is Michigan not becoming Mississippi," she said. However, the rhetorical flourish is undermined by the reality that Mississippi is no longer the "small government = high-poverty" foil that Michigan's political class has often used to justify keeping their government employee constituencies well fed with more tax dollars.
The MEA Money Tree 27 GOP Lawmakers got campaign money from the union that lobbies against the 3 percent reduction in the School Aid budget.
Is MSU Hyping Project Labor Agreements? Project Labor Agreements are at best an unnecessary headache for both government and contractors. At worst they are another payoff for uncompetitive unionized construction.
10,000 Teacher Layoffs? Let's Try Zero Instead. The Michigan Education Association is trying to scare the public and the Legislature by claiming that a $218 per pupil reduction in the state school aid fund would result in 10,000 teacher layoffs. Looking closely at teacher compensation shows that we could achieve the same savings with exactly zero layoffs, and even if savings came directly from layoffs, it would be less than a quarter of what the MEA threatens.
Center Cited on Teacher Pay Research by Policy Analyst Ken Braun was highlighted in a column by Nolan Finley in today's Detroit News.
Center Op-Ed on Nanny State An Op-Ed by Communications Director Michael D. Jahr and Assistant Editor Hannah K. Mead was published in today's Midland Daily News.
Teacher furloughs have parents scrambling "Hawaii teachers will take 17 "furlough Friday" days this year, but some parents want to keep school open by renting the buildings and paying teachers privately to show up."
Michigan gets $945,000 reading grant "Michigan will receive a $945,000 grant intended to help middle and high school students become better readers."
The Price We Pay If Michigan's public schools were a business competing in the marketplace, would the 4th highest teacher salaries in the nation put them out of business?
EPA Action Is a Tax on Michigan Power Plants and Customers The Obama administration’s announcement this week that EPA is going to regulate CO2 emissions from industrial facilities and power plants for the first time by requiring those plants to obtain a permit under the Clean Air Act is bad news for Michigan. The EPA’s action amounts to a new tax on Michigan business and families, which will lead to the loss of more jobs in the state which already is suffering from a 15.2 percent unemployment rate — highest in the nation.
Bond issue in Hartland "Hartland Consolidated Schools will put a $27.8 million bond proposal before district voters next February, pending approval from the Michigan Department of Treasury."
Michigan Tax Burden Increases, Census Bureau Shows New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that state and local government tax burden increased from 2006 to 2007. Michigan workers pay on average $8,691 in property, sales, income and other taxes. This is a one-year increase of 5.9 percent.
Michael Moore’s Union Dilemma ABC News is reporting today that a couple of labor unions are a little miffed that Michael Moore used non-union labor during work on his newest release, "Capitalism: A Love Story", which opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow.
"No New Taxes" Budget Mugged by Unions The Michigan legislature avoided a state government shutdown last night by caving in to union demands that more of the "stimulus" money being reserved for next year - when the state really goes over a fiscal cliff - be used to avoid a 3 percent cut to school aid. The Mackinac Center's Jack McHugh explains in a Current Comment today that this dynamic explains all of Michigan's troubles:"At the root of Michigan's budget debacle and almost all its other major problems one will find a union, which helped the problem grow and now is stopping it from being fixed. Fix that problem - the union excessive political power of unions - and the transformational reforms Michigan needs become possible. Don't fix it, and we lurch from budget crisis to budget crisis, with politicians offering the false choice of 'cuts vs. tax hikes'."
Center Cited on State Budget The Mackinac Center was cited today by World Magazine in a story about the Michigan Legislature's failure to balance the fiscal 2010 budget and its self-created $2.8 billion overspending crisis.
Howell teachers want raise "Howell Public Schools teachers have requested a 1.5 percent pay hike in the latest round of contract negotiations, while the district wants a 1 percent payback."
Fiscal Storm Clouds Grow Darker, More Ominous As the last day of Fiscal Year 2009 draws to a close legislators are struggling to enact a new Michigan state budget for FY 2010. This afternoon Gov. Granholm sent out notices of impending layoffs should a deal not be reached. After using one-time using federal “stimulus” money the state still needs around $1.3 billion in program reductions and/or new revenues (higher taxes, more fees) to close the budget gap.Yet even if another midnight deal is reached and state government opens for business as usual tomorrow, the current challenge probably pales in comparison to the fiscal storm on the near horizon.
Don't get me wrong - there are real cuts in these budgets working their way through the House and Senate. However, it's still jarring to see things like this in MichiganVotes.org:
The House-Senate conference report for the Department of Human Services (Welfare) budget. This would appropriate $5.941 billion in gross spending, compared to $4.580 billion enrolled in 2008. $4.974 billion of this budget is federal money, compared to $3.174 billion in FY 2008-2009. Passed in the House (69 to 39) Passed in the Senate (20-17)
(The "no" votes are people who want to spend more.)
Punishing the Good Neighbor Lisa Snyder has watched (without compensation) a five-year old kindergartener for her widowed neighbor and a seven-year old boy for another neighbor for a short period of time as they wait for the school bus. The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) made national news by demanding that she become a licensed day care provider. But what has largely been overlooked is that if Ms. Snyder were to go through the licensing process, she would thereby become a member of a purported government employees’ union.
Big Labor Says: "NO CUTS!" A big labor union is calling up its favorite Republicans and telling them not to cut the budget.
How Will They Solve the Budget Dilemma? Mackinac Center analysts were cited in two Detroit-area newspapers today about how Michigan can address its current financial difficulties.
Michael Moore and the Michigan Film Incentive: Is There a Happy Ending? It’s apparently not a love story between filmmaker Michael Moore and Michigan’s generous refundable tax subsidy for the movie industry. In his quote about the program in a Sept. 29, 2009, blog post on the Michigan Messenger Web site, Moore is clearly not even enamored with it: “If it’s not good for Michigan,” he said, “Michigan shouldn’t do it.”
Pupil Count Day For public schools and their employees, "pupil count day" is one of the most important days on the school calendar. Judging by the actions of some large school districts throughout the state, count day trumps the first day of school, MEAP testing days, and graduation day. Many schools go all out trying to corral as many students as possible to show up on this day-of-days.
AFT picks Detroit over Las Vegas "The American Federation of Teachers will conduct its 2012 annual meeting in Detroit rather than Las Vegas so that the union does not appear to be on a junket."
You Say You Want a Revolution... Thank you for contacting the Mackinac Center and Capitol Confidential about our views on whether citizens should approve a state constitutional convention, which will be on the 2010 ballot. The Center doesn’t have any “official” view on this, but I’m glad to share my own, with which most of my colleagues generally agree. In short, it's “If you let slip the dogs of war, you can’t control where they run.” (Or something like that.)
The Bills of September Facing a Sept. 30 deadline to adopt a budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the legislature has been busy with more than just closing the desired-spending vs. expected-revenue gap (a.k.a. “the deficit”). So far this month they have introduced 270 bills. That is 270 new laws proposed by a legislature of 148 souls in less than 30 days. By month’s end the total will surely be well over 300. To be fair, some of these are related to the budget. Tax increase proposals, for example – on one day alone 25 of these were introduced. In addition to the tax hikes there were bills covering every subject under the sun.
Faux Savings The Michigan Education Association union is leading the education establishment's attacks on lawmakers plan to pass a no-new-taxes budget that among other things reduces state spending on public schools. In a podcast posted yesterday, MEA president Iris K. Salters repeated a claim she made in an Aug. 26 Detroit News Op-Ed, that school employees "probably have saved over $700 million" in health care costs. Salters does not disclose the source of this figure.
Babysitter's Saga Illustrates Licensure Madness The saga of a Middleville woman investigated by the state Department of Human Services for the crime of keeping an eye on some neighbors’ kids as they waited for the bus has gone national after having been all over the blogosphere for days.
"If House Republicans can't be counted on to support an all-cut budget, what is the reason for the existence of House Republicans?" DiSano said. "That caucus is filled with hard-line conservatives who talk tough in GOP primaries. Now is their chance to shine and cut, cut and cut some more. The question is do they have the guts to go home and explain these cuts?"
2007 Redux Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst, is quoted in a Detroit News article today about Michigan's budget negotiations and the possibility of a government shutdown if a balanced budget is not passed by midnight tomorrow.
Teacher retirees would get $40,000 "More than three quarters of Hazel Park Schools teachers are at the top of the district salary scale, earning about $76,000 a year each."
Mixed results on academic help program "Farwell Area Schools reported mixed results from an after school and summer program for students who need academic help or need to make up failed classes."
Michael LaFaive Cited on Tax Hikes Michael LaFaive, director of the Mackinac Center's Morey Fiscal Policy, was cited in today's Lansing State Journal in a story about the public's disinterest in tax hikes. The Michigan Legislature currently faces a self-created $2.8 billion overspending crisis and has until midnight Wednesday to eliminate it and pass a balanced fiscal year 2010 budget. The Legislature passed $1.4 billion in tax hikes in 2007 to balance the state budget, since which time Michigan's unemployment rate has doubled.
Real estate scandal alleged in DPS "Detroit Public Schools may have overspent millions of taxpayer dollars in real estate purchases and management services related to Cass Technical High School."
Quincy signs contract "Quincy Community Schools teachers and school board members have approved a contract under which the salary schedule will remain the same for two years and increase by 1 percent in the third year."
A Rebuttal to the MEDC's Wall Street Journal Letter Part III Yesterday, I published the second part of this essay, which uses an MEDC letter-to-the-editor in the Wall Street Journal to illustrate the agency's pattern of using illegitimate rhetorical devices in response to serious critiques, including distractions, irrelevancies and non sequiturs. Part I was published Wednesday. Here's third and final part:
Michigan Parents Choose Choice Do parents really want school choice? Ab-so-lutely. According to a Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency report titled “Explaining School Choice,” when given the ability to choose their children’s school, Michigan parents are exercising that choice at increasing rates.
The Coming $50 Billion Budget Battle The state is currently wrestling with how to close a $2.8 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2010. Some of the proposed cuts to state spending are significant and debate over them may be holding up completion of the budget, which must be passed by midnight Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
Wetlands: Democrats Get it Right for the Wrong Reasons The Michigan Senate has voted to keep the state wetlands program targeted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm for return to the federal government. The vote was along party lines with the Republicans voting to keep the program and the Democrats voting against the legislation. Once again, legislators from both parties have come to the wrong conclusion.
In an effort to help this state's political class bust out of its narrow conceptual box the Detroit News is running a "50 ideas to fix Michigan" feature, solicited from various entities that have a few. The Mackinac Center tried to provide ideas that no one else would offer, that represent not just "cuts" but genuine transformational reform in the way the state does business, and that truly "blow up the box" that constricts most conversations on state budget issues to a simplistic "cuts vs. tax hikes" formula. The first Mackinac Center idea highligted by the News is one we first offered back in 2003, to save $65 million without reducing the number of law enforcement officers by devolving Michigan State Police road patrols to county sheriff deputies - something the Lansing budgeteers should have on the table this week as they struggle to craft a budget that "saves" the jobs of 105 troopers eliminated last spring.
"Tenther" Smear Has a Problem: The Posturing Is Bipartisan Reason's Radley Balko notes that center-left publications including the The American Prospect and The New Republic (plus our own Blogging for Michigan) are "pushing the 'Tenther' smear, aimed at lumping those who, horrors!, still take seriously the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in with the Obama birth certificate deniers and 9/11 truthers."
At least in Michigan, however, the partisan smear mongers have a challenge: Politicians from both parties are showing themselves to be bipartisan posturers on this issue.
Last week the Republican-run Michigan state Senate passed its own meaningless 10th Amendment resolution 31-0 vote. All the Dems who were present voted "yes." (Two Dems and two Repubs were absent.)
Charter, reform advocates rally "Charter public school and education reform advocates gathered at the Capitol in Lansing on Thursday to rally for legislation that would address failing schools, create new forms of public schools and permit alternative teacher certification."
Billions Served Proposed K-12 cuts are not so scary in real-world context. If we hired teachers from the state of Washington, then we could cut almost 4 times as much.
Tourism Subsidy Beneficiaries Chant on Capitol Steps: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Actually we don't know what they chanted, but MIRS News reported that that tourism-related business officials did demonstrate in front of the Capitol yesteray, protesting a proposed cut to the state's "Pure Michigan" advertising campaign.Here's a concept for them: If ad campaigns like Pure Michigan are really such a success, why don't the hotels that benefit from this taxpayer largesse pay for it themselves? That the tourist industry's members refuse to do so speaks volumes about the program's real value.
DPS Building Scandal Highlights Need For Transparency The Detroit News today writes about a possible scandal regarding building construction and land purchases by Detroit Public Schools. The district paid more than $156.2 million for services it may have obtained for $15 million, according to The News. It underscores the importance of transparency.
A Rebuttal to the MEDC's Wall Street Journal Letter Part II Yesterday, I published the first part of this essay illustrating how an MEDC letter-to-the-editor responding to a critical Wall Street Journal editorial illustrates the agency's pattern of using illegitimate rhetorical devices to avoid responding to the substance of serious critiques, including distractions, irrelevancies and non sequiturs. Here is the second part of the essay, deconstructing other statements in MEDC CEO Greg Main's letter.
As Michigan faces the potential for yet another budget debacle, frustrated citizens and pundits wonder if there aren't institutional reforms that might mitigate the apparent inability of our state's government establishment to solve long-festering dysfunctions. Things like a part time or unicameral legislature, biannual budgeting, etc.
Unfortunately, there appears to be no correlation between these different institutional arrangements and the level of dysfunction in a state's political/government establishment. However, the inability to solve problems - and the depth of those problems - does appear to be correlated with another factor:
States with strong, politically-active unions - in particular public employee unions - tend to be the ones that have fallen and can't get up. Where unions are much less powerful and influential the worst dysfunctions have been avoided, both economic and governmental.
In short, at the root of Michigan's budget debacle and almost all its other major problems one will find a union, which helped the problem grow and now is stopping it from being fixed.
Harding Discusses Cap-and-Trade Russ Harding, Mackinac Center senior environmental analyst, discussed cap-and-trade and other energy issues in Oakland County recently.
Lawmakers propose $218-per-student cut "Public schools would receive $218-per-pupil less in state funding under budget plans that emerged from House-Senate committees Wednesday."
This Is Not Astroturf? Critics from the pro-spending, pro-government side of the ideological spectrum have famously been throwing the charge of “Astroturf” — i.e. fake “grass roots” — at the various TEA Party gatherings and town hall meetings that have been flaring up across the nation since April 15.
Are We Being Too Tough on Hollywood? The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has been critical of the Michigan Film Incentive since its inception in 2008. At first, the criticisms were focused on the pure principle of the thing: state government has no business trying to pick corporate winners from losers in the marketplace. This time, the perceived “winner” would be moviemakers who could get cash refunds of up to 42 percent of money spent in Michigan. This also became the most generous film incentive in the country.
A Rebuttal to MEDC Letter in The Wall Street Journal On Sept. 4, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial titled “The Michigan Example,” excoriating the state’s reliance on government central planning to “create” jobs, rather than undertake genuine overall business climate reform. The editorial was based in part on research published a few days earlier by myself and James Hohman.
Political Anatomy 101 Confidence in government breeds complacency in politics. When people think government is handling things tolerably well, they see no reason to pay much attention to politics. When confidence sinks from low to lower, grass-roots political energy spikes upward. That’s why people are now leaping off the sidelines and into TEA parties and raucous town hall meetings to protest sky-high taxes, exploding deficits and the government’s attempt to take over health care. Smart politicians can seize this opportunity by exercising an oft-neglected part of the political anatomy: the spine.
State Tested, State Approved Michigan law mandates that nearly all teachers pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. The state claims these tests are “criterion referenced and objective based,” but reading through some of the sample questions provided on the MTTC Web site, I wonder how “objective” these tests really are. It’s well known that universities are disproportionately staffed with men and women of the left, but it’s rather startling to find the same type of ideological bias in state-mandated teacher certification tests.
As The Water Rises ... (25 tax hikes in one day!) As the Sept. 30 deadline approaches for adopting a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget, there is considerable angst among the political class about the agreement House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, which is characterized as a "cuts-only" solution to the massive gap between the amount legislators would like to spend and the amount of taxes and fees the state expects to collect (a.k.a. "the deficit").
Center Cited on Transparency The Mackinac Center's ongoing efforts to get public schools, municipalities and legislators to post spending online for public inspection was highlighted by WEYI-TV25 today.
Adrian participates in pinwheel project "Students at Adrian Middle School created and displayed about 400 pinwheels in the school foyer recently as part of a "whirled peace" project."
Michigan Median Household Income Falls Michigan median household incomes grew by 1.7 percent, according to a release today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Adjusted for inflation, Michigan incomes fell by 2.4 percent. Overall, the national median household income decreased by 1.3 percent. Unlike much economic news in the past decade, a number of other states are sharing in the downturn.
Jackson gives edge to local contractors "Jackson Public Schools has adopted a policy of hiring local contractors for large jobs, as long as the local bids are within 5 percent or $10,000 of the lowest bid."
Michigan Sets Another Dubious Record Data released last Friday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that for the second month this year, Michigan was burdened with an unemployment rate exceeding that of Puerto Rico. Michigan’s rate was 15.2 percent while Puerto Rico’s stood at 15.1 percent.
Three charged with election crime "Three people, including two board members, have been charged with crimes related to the Buena Vista school board election in May."
State Supreme Court won’t take case "Michigan Collegiate High School and Middle School came out ahead in an ongoing legal battle recently, as the Michigan Supreme Court refused to take up the City of Warren's case against the public charter school's development."
Gibraltar contract boosts drug co-pay "Gibraltar Schools teachers will pay more out of pocket for prescription drugs, but will not have to contribute to their health insurance premiums under the terms of a new contract between their union and the school district."
Caucus to focus on funding equity "State legislators have formed a caucus intended to work toward equitable funding among public schools."
District sues over tax ruling "Covert Public Schools is suing the Michigan State Tax Commission over a property tax ruling that could reduce district revenue by $2.4 million this year."
If You Can't Tax Coal, Kill It With Regulation Coal has become the bête noire of the environmental movement. Environmentalists would eliminate coal (coal-fired power plants produce 48.5 percent of the of the nation’s electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy) by making it so expensive to use that other forms of alternative energy could compete economically.
Brighton teachers to pay more for insurance
"Brighton Area Schools teachers will receive pay raises and step increases, but also contribute more to their health insurance costs in the next two years, a move expected to help the district address its overspending problems."
Lotto would cover college costs "Super lotto games would help cover college costs for all Michigan residents under a proposal introduced this week by state Rep. Fred Durhal, D-Detroit."
Oakland: Property decline means cuts "Oakland Schools will eliminate 86 positions, freeze wages and require nonunion employees to take five unpaid furlough days in response to predictions of a 24 percent drop in revenue by 2013."
Baldwin ready with scholarship money "The Baldwin Promise Authority has collected enough money to award its first scholarships to Baldwin Community Schools Class of 2010 graduates, organizers announced recently."
Green Jobs Fad Means More Government Intervention The Michigan Economic Development Corp., state Legislature, governor and other supporters of government “jobs” programs have adopted an almost pop-culture idolatry for all things environmental by showering taxpayer subsidies upon corporations claiming to bring purportedly “earth friendly” products to market. It has a shiny, new green paint job, but in fact this is just the latest in a long line of failed state economic development program fads.
Governor's Proposal: Equivalent of 58 Percent Surcharge Gov. Jennifer Granholm has gone public a laundry list of proposed tax hikes and “loophole closings.” It's a "death by a thousand cuts" strategy, which most items extracting relatively small amounts, or targeted at politically powerless populations like smokers. Unfortunately, these little injuries add up to a lot of blood drained from Michigan's already ailing economy.
To put this in perspective, to raise the same amount of revenue raising business tax rates, the current (and reviled) 22 percent surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax would have to be raised from 22 percent to 51 percent. Alternatives, the governor and legislature could jack-up the stat income tax by another 11 percent, increasing the rates from 4.35 percent to 4.85 percent. (estimates on revenue from each tax are available here.)
Analysis: Health pool could save millions "A proposed statewide health care pool for all public sector employees could save Michigan taxpayers between $565 million and $875 million a year."
Building-for-tuition swap in Hancock "Finlandia University and Hancock Public Schools have entered a school building-for-tuition agreement that gives the university more classroom space and local high school graduates a free college education."
MEDC President: LaFaive Is Right Greg Main, president of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., told a Grand Rapids Press columnist that he agrees with Michael LaFaive, the Mackinac Center's fiscal policy director, that the MEDC should be more transparent.
Bus drivers stay on in Adrian "Adrian Public Schools students will see familiar faces behind the wheel of most school buses this year, as half of the bus drivers formerly employed by the district accepted jobs with First Student, the district's new bus service provider."
Christian school closes in Burton "Valley Christian Academy in Burton has closed due to financial pressures caused by dwindling enrollment."
Home-schoolers do well on standard tests "The nation's home-schooled children score, on average, at the 88th percentile on standardized tests in reading, math and language."
Smoking Bans Violate Property Rights Common sense can be found almost anywhere outside Lansing -- especially as it pertains to property rights and smoking bans.
Tea and Astroturf There has been a steady drumbeat of accusations this summer from defenders of the “big government solution” side of the health care debate that the “town hall” and “TEA Party” protests against members of congress are organized by insurance companies, the Republican Party and various other so-called “Astroturf” agitators who don’t represent “normal” Americans. If one actually attends these events (as I have) the absurdity of this allegation becomes abundantly clear.
However, if the “Astroturf” pejorative has any meaning at all, surely it would apply to a protest event on which the official press secretary for one of the major political parties is doing the PR work for the “grassroots project,” AND is acknowledging that the grassroots project and its work are all tied directly to the political party’s national committee.
State or federal, protectionism hurts Protectionism is an ever-popular area for demagoguery by politicians on both sides of the aisle. Protectionist bills introduced in the Michigan Senate and passed by the House would require employers who receive state and local construction, service or purchase contracts to only hire Michigan residents, with some exceptions. I can’t speak for Michigan employers like Haworth furniture or Kelly Services that may seek contracts with other state governments, but suspect that they would not be grateful if our legislature helped promote a state-level trade war by passing its own brand of “Smoot-Hawley” protectionism.
Health Care Straw-Men “Righties” (at least the fit ones) may not want to be forced by the government to subsidize the bad habits of others, but (grudgingly) do so when choosing to pay for their own insurance. For their part, some “lefties” wouldn’t mind giving the government some new powers to force "Cheetos-scarfing, beer-swilling coach potatoes" to shape-up.
Thumb area schools dispute MESSA "Dispute continues in Thumb-area schools over a union-affiliated health care plan, as many public school districts report at least an 8 percent rate hike."
Gadhafi for Auto Czar? The Detroit News says there was a big party in Tripoli, yesterday to celebrate the Gadhafi coup's 40th anniversary. A more local angle on this event is Gadhafi’s other role as an international man of business. You see, he was into Bailout Nation WAY before it was cool. Early 1979 was the last time Chrysler teetered on the brink of insolvency – that time asking (and eventually winning) $1.5 billion in bailout loan guarantees from the U.S. taxpayer. In this most recent go-round the bankruptcy bailout wheel, ChryCo was pushed into becoming a subsidiary of the supposedly stronger Fiat. But Fiat has had an interesting government bailout history of its own . . .
Mackinac Center Health Care Roundtable Sept. 16 The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, The Heartland Institute, Consumers for Health Care Choices, and Americans for Prosperity – Michigan, invite you to an exclusive roundtable discussion. “The Future of Health Care in America” will be held in Rochester, Mich., onWednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Discussion leaders will include some of the most innovative organizations and thought leaders in American health care today. The roundtable provides a forum for individuals from varied backgrounds to come together and work through the challenges facing consumer-driven health care in the new Administration.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has offered a rather odd proposal to involve four outside individuals as “mediators” in the process of her office negotiating a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget with the Democratic House and Republican Senate in the face of a nearly $2 billion gap between desired spending and expected revenue.
Mirs News (subscription required) calls the move, “reminiscent of the Governor's Emergency Financial Advisory Panel (chaired by former Govs. William Milliken and Jim Blanchard), which she appointed in January 2007 to give direction on the state's budget crisis. . . Ultimately, few of the issues raised by the EFAP ever made it into the legislative debate.”
True, but the panel served it’s real purpose nevertheless, which was to give “bipartisan” cover to what the governor had decided as early as December, 2006, which was to go for a major tax increase. As the Mackinac Center’s David Littmann predicted at the time, and as was eventually proved by events.
Trick, or Treat The Michigan Legislature is this morning taking up House Bill 5275, a bill that authorizes a Michigan Economic Growth Authority business tax credit deal for a battery cell manufacturing facility.
Saginaw debates use of MME scores "Saginaw City School District high school students made gains on the Michigan Merit Exam in 2009, but the school board president said students would have an incentive to do even better if their scores were "integrated" into their overall academic record."
Longer School Year Won’t Improve Student Achievement Voices around the state and prominent education officials are calling for Michigan to lengthen its school year and increase the amount of time students spend in class.
State health plan details released "Public workers would receive health care under one of an array of plans crafted by the state employer under a proposed statewide health insurance system."
‘Neighborhood schools’ bills move "School reform measures that would allow parents and teachers to open public "neighborhood schools" passed the Senate Education Committee on Thursday."
Union head alleges retribution "While a tentative contract agreement has been reached in Traverse City Area Public Schools, the teachers union president says he has been reassigned in retribution for speaking out about contract issues."
Schools venture into alternative energy "Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Sturgis Public Schools both announced alternative energy programs this week."
DPS to ask voters for $500 million bond "Detroiters would pay construction debt for an additional 15 years if they approve a $500 million bond issue to build or renovate a number of school buildings."
Consultant: 200 schools in red by 2011 "A school consultant predicted that about 200 Michigan public schools will be in the red by the year 2011 due to reduced state funding."
Christian, public schools share teachers "About 15 Holland Christian Schools teachers will become employees of Holland Public Schools this year, but continue to work in the Christian school setting."
Howell: MEA skewed truth on privatization "Howell Public Schools officials said the Michigan Education Association intentionally distorted the truth when it published an article claiming the district did not save money by hiring a private firm for custodial services."
Bank says no on school loan "Comerica Bank declined to open a line of credit for South Redford Schools recently, citing the district's declining fund balance."
Manistique bids to be ‘demonstration district’ "Manistique Area Schools is bidding to become a "demonstration district" under a state program that may award funding to school districts to test innovative education methods."
Road commission hires students "The Macomb County Road Commission will renew and expand an agreement with Macomb Academy under which special education students are hired to do custodial work at road commission offices."
Algebra II bills move "The House Education Committee and the full Senate have passed separate measures that would allow high schoolers to graduate without taking Algebra II, with backers saying students would learn sufficient math through vocational courses."
GR teachers sign contract "Grand Rapids Public Schools teachers will receive a 2 percent raise in 2009-1010 but pay more for health care benefits under a tentative contract agreement they ratified in voting this week."
Students billed for Promise costs "At least three state universities already are billing college students for what used to be Michigan Promise scholarship money, while others are taking a wait-and-see approach."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
Preschool on again in Kalamazoo "Nervous about funding, Kalamazoo Public Schools will move ahead with preschool this fall, but may suspend it midyear if state money is eliminated."
Stimulus dollars fund specialist’s job "Addison Community Schools will hire a behavioral intervention and student support specialist using stimulus money."
Bridgeport ties bonus pay to AYP "Superintendent Gloria J. Rubis will make $95,000 as the new chief administrator in Bridgeport-Spaulding Community Schools, but can earn up to $3,000 more if district schools make "adequate yearly progress."
Schools anticipate funding cuts "Still not sure of their 2009-2010 state funding levels, some public school administrators are sounding the alarm about a potential $500-per-pupil reduction by 2010-2011."
Parents sue over school closing "A judge has said he will rule by the end of the month on whether Bloomfield Hills Public Schools must continue to operate Pine Lake School."
School accreditation plan hits snag "State education officials and some legislators are divided over whether and how much the federal No Child Left Behind act should affect Michigan public school accreditation."
Promise Zone work begins in Lansing "Ten community members were named to the Lansing School District's Promise Zone advisory board last week and now will begin the work of establishing scholarship guidelines and raising money."
Washtenaw to ask for two mills "Voters in 10 public school districts in Washtenaw County will be asked to approve a new, 2-mill school tax in November."
Strike talk in Detroit "Detroit teachers are among public employees threatening to strike in opposition to wage cuts, furloughs or other union concessions planned by city or school administrators."
Audits: Millions in waste at DPS "Detroit Public Schools paid about $2.1 million a year for health coverage for people who weren't eligible, an audit released Wednesday showed."
Leslie keeps MESSA; no raises "Teachers in Leslie Public Schools will retain their current insurance administrator but mostly give up pay increases under a four-year contract agreement reached this week."
Teachers divided on fast track certification "About 42 percent of Michigan teachers do not oppose a proposal to speed up the teacher certification process for people who already have a background in math or science."
Addison to apply for construction loan "Addison Community Schools will apply for an interest-free loan for school construction through the federal stimulus program."
Wrestling coach files suit "A former high school wrestling coach has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Dearborn Public Schools and a high school principal who is Muslim."
Make-or-break millage in Saugatuck
"Saugatuck Public Schools residents will vote Aug. 4 on what school officials say is a make-or-break millage renewal."
Teacher massage scam alleged "A Flushing-area chiropractor has been charged in an alleged $48,000 insurance scam involving teacher massages."
Stimulus pays for lunch equipment "About 160 Michigan public schools will share $2.5 million in federal stimulus money to purchase school lunch equipment."
National Heritage continues expansion "A charter public school company headquartered in Michigan is working to open schools in Louisiana and Colorado."
E-mail exchange part of recall controversy "Another e-mail controversy has emerged in Howell Public Schools, this time related to an effort to recall three school board members."
Report: States should rethink master’s pay "In tough economic times, one place where school districts could save money is by halting the practice of automatically paying teachers more for advanced degrees."
AG: More charters legal in Detroit "State Attorney General Mike Cox said in a legal opinion Monday that declining enrollment has triggered the mechanism allowing more charter public schools to open in Detroit."
Dillon plan opens debate "A proposal to create a statewide health pool for public employees is drawing support from some southeast Michigan business community representatives, but criticism from labor unions."
Policy varies on hiring family members "Allegations of criminal sexual conduct brought against a Grand Rapids Public Schools employee has raised questions about the practice of hiring family members of school board members or administrators."
Lutheran school may close "Michigan Lutheran Seminary may face closure after the coming school year, depending on whether delegates to a Lutheran synod convention choose to spend money on mission work or education."
Cadillac cuts Great Start "Cadillac Area Public Schools will essentially eliminate its Great Start Readiness Preschool Program as a way to reduce spending, though the district superintendent praised the program as effectively helping youngsters prepare for kindergarten."
Dillon: Overhaul public sector health plan "House Speaker Andy Dillon has proposed a single health care plan for all public workers and retirees that he says could save up to $900 million a year through standardized coverage and economies of scale."
Van Beek named Mackinac education policy director As director of education policy, Van Beek will lead the Center’s efforts to promote choice, quality and effective use of resources in all educational settings.
MME scores mainly unchanged "Michigan Merit Exam scores in math and writing increased slightly in 2009, but less than half of all test-takers were proficient in either subject."
DPS hires turnaround firms "Four private education management firms will work to turn around what one administrator called "shameful" achievement records at 17 Detroit high schools."
Privatization leads to recall "Three school board members in the Benton Harbor Area Schools are being targeted for recall after voting to privatize transportation services."
Stimulus spending decisions begin "School officials in southwest Michigan are looking for ways to use short-term stimulus money for long-term impact."
Board won’t pursue tenure hearing "An Alpena teacher and coach has resigned in the wake of an investigation into his alleged inappropriate communications with a junior varsity basketball player."
Budget questions stall negotiations "Uncertainty about state funding is one reason for lengthy teacher contract negotiations in Alma and Shepherd."
Muskegon settles on health plan "Muskegon teachers will see reduced insurance premium contributions but increased copays under the terms of a new contract agreement."
CEPI: 2008 grad rate is 75 percent "A state report shows that about 75 percent of Michigan's Class of 2008 graduated within four years, while the dropout rate among that cohort was 14 percent."
Stimulus pays youth for career training "Federal stimulus money has turned an educational experience into paying jobs for 18 students enrolled in a program at Beaumont Hospital."
Recall under investigation "A recall effort against four school board members is under investigation by Michigan State Police, but a detective said that his work might not be finished before the recall election itself."
Ypsilanti adopts deficit budget "The Ypsilanti school district plans to spend about $3 million more than it takes in during the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which means it also will have to file a deficit elimination plan with the state to explain the shortfall."
Algonac considers outsourcing "The Algonac Community School District may privatize its custodial and bus services, but is giving current employees a chance to make a counter proposal first."
Bankruptcy next for DPS? "Potential bankruptcy, continuing budget problems, more staff cuts and allegations of theft at Detroit Public Schools all were reported by Detroit media during the past week."
GR revamps alternative programs "Only 33 percent of the students enrolled in Grand Rapids alternative high schools graduated last year, a number the district believes can be improved by switching to online courses, extended days and hours and a lower student-adult ratio."
ACLU: School discipline is uneven "African-American students are suspended or expelled at disproportionately higher rates than white students in Michigan."
Pay hike, premium contribution in TBAISD "Employees in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District will receive pay hikes, contribute 10 percent to their health insurance premiums and move to a new insurance plan under the terms of a newly signed contract."
Union: ‘Ghosts’ probably not teachers "The "ghost employees" that may be drawing paychecks from Detroit Public Schools probably aren't teachers, according to the union president, because they apparently aren't paying union dues."
Romeo budget hinges on concessions "Headed into contract negotiations, the Romeo school board has adopted a $50 million budget that counts on $2 million in employee wage or benefit concessions."
School leaders float ideas on saving money "Regional labor contracts, a statewide teacher pay scale and consolidated administration are among the proposals that a group of Michigan school leaders want the state to consider."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
Applying economics to ed research "Michigan State University has received a $5 million grant to train education researchers in economics."
DPS, Doug Ross talk partnership "The emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools and the head of some of the city's most successful charter schools said Thursday that preliminary talk is under way about a joint project at DPS' Mumford High School."
Whiteford expands food privatization "Four cafeteria workers employed by Whiteford Agricultural Schools in Monroe County will be transferred to the company that manages the district's food services, but a union official predicted a lawsuit over the move."
Stiffer penalties for striking teachers "Michigan teachers could lose certification for two years if they take part in a strike, under legislation recently introduced in the state House."
MEA wants ISD to turn over fund equity "School employees and Michigan Education Association leaders want Oakland Schools to turn over more of its fund equity to local districts."
The Refuge: Summer 2009 "A man's house is his castle — et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium."
— Sir Edward Coke
Proposal would end Promise "Senate Republicans have proposed eliminating the Michigan Promise scholarship in the beginning rounds of state budget discussions, but the education adviser to Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the governor will not sign on."
Bargaining details posted; union angry "Teachers union officials in Traverse City are "appalled" that the school district posted details about ongoing contract negotiations on its Web site."
Fewer teachers retiring "Kalamazoo area school districts won't save as much money as usual on teacher retirements this year because fewer educators have opted to leave the classroom."
Parents, teachers could run schools "Parents and teachers could run their own independent "neighborhood schools" under legislation introduced in the state House Thursday."
Privatization key to Lakeview budget "The money saved by privatizing custodial and maintenance services and eliminating transportation, combined with increased enrollment, will allow Lakeview Public Schools to maintain staffing levels and buy textbooks and technology in the coming year."
State proposes new school rating system "State education officials want to implement a new rating system for public schools, though it means more than 100 schools would likely lose their current accredited status."
State board considers fundraising
"The State Board of Education might get into the fundraising business by forming an education foundation and public/private partnership arrangement."
MichiganScience No. 10 MichiganScience is a Mackinac Center quarterly magazine that helps meet the need for accurate and accessible information about the increasingly complex scientific issues confronting voters and lawmakers. The magazine reflects the idea that even the most technical scientific policy issues can be discussed with lively prose and compelling visuals.
Insurance hikes vary in Pinckney "Pinckney Community Schools will lay off 14 teachers as it plans for a decline in enrollment and higher health insurance and diesel fuel bills."
TVs a reward for top ACT scores "Keeping a promise made by a predecessor, a Beecher Community Schools administrator presented flat screen TVs to two students who earned the district's best scores on the ACT exam."
DPS considering privatization "Eighty percent of the employees in the Detroit Public Schools curriculum department will be laid off by the end of June, while 11 cabinet-level executives will not be invited back when their contracts run out."
Teachers caught in tenure mix-up "Several former charter public school teachers say they will appeal a state decision denying them tenure and also will ask Wyoming Public Schools to give them jobs next year."
Hospital-turned-school to open in 2010 "An abandoned hospital and adjacent medical plaza will become home to a charter public school, medical offices and an assisted living facility over the next three years."
Teachers authorize 'further action' "Woodhaven-Brownstown teachers have authorized their bargaining unit to "take action" to settle a contract, but stopped short of calling it a strike vote."
Math, science center needs more room "When its state funding was reduced, the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center found a different way to bring in money — selling science kits to K-12 schools across Michigan."
Judge: Official can’t keep both posts "A Muskegon school board member who also is a county commissioner says he will appeal a judge's ruling that he must step down from one of the elected offices."
Arizona expands tuition tax credits "Disabled children and those in foster care in Arizona will be eligible for private-school scholarships following action by state lawmakers this week."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
Trustee says she didn’t intend to resign "The Okemos school board is moving ahead with plans to replace one of its members, though the trustee said she did not intend to resign."
DFT chief: Teachers must be open to change "Detroit teachers must not only be willing to reform education, but should be contributors to the process, union leaders told them at a training session Tuesday."
Pontiac school plan ends up in court "A circuit court judge has offered to facilitate discussions between Pontiac school teachers and the school district over the district's reorganization plan."
When meeting time is also mealtime "A survey of what's on the menu — literally — when public officials in northern Michigan gather for meetings turned up such fare as continental breakfasts, pizza and full-course meals."
Stimulus money causes spending arguments "While some Michigan school districts are making plans to spend federal stimulus dollars, others say they are waiting for firm guidelines, and an argument has erupted in at least one location."
Another U Prep charter to open "The Thompson Education Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will fund the construction of a new public charter high school opening in fall 2010 on the Detroit riverfront."
In the red, Pontiac hires D.C. law firm "The Pontiac school district has agreed to pay a Washington, D.C., law firm up to $250 an hour to push for more latitude on spending federal stimulus money."
Schools grapple with spending "As the June deadline to adopt a balanced budget nears, school district after Michigan school district is telling a story of declining enrollment, flat per-pupil funding and a consequent shakeup in staffing and programs."
Students protest principal’s departure "Western International High School students and staff staged a walkout on Monday after learning that their principal would not return next year."
Busing goes private in Benton Harbor "A visit from the president of the Michigan Education Association teachers union was not enough to prevent the Benton Harbor school board from hiring a private firm to provide transportation services."
Tax incentives under question "Michigan has no way to know if the millions of dollars it hands out in tax incentives and tax abatements are effective because it doesn’t systematically measure the results."
Eating veggies in Taylor "Students at Blair Moody Elementary School in Taylor are growing, eating and selling vegetables and herbs as they make use of the school’s newly built greenhouse."
Teacher PAC case at Supreme Court "The question of whether public school districts can deduct money from teacher paychecks for the political arm of the Michigan Education Association has reached the Michigan Supreme Court."
A guide to labor law for charter school staff. This 105-page book explains how Michigan's labor law works and in particular how and why unions are formed. The book also gives advice on how charter schools can maintain good relations between teachers and administrators.
Duncan: Bing should take over "Mayor Dave Bing should take control of Detroit Public Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan suggested this week, and Bing said he would be willing to do so."
Monroe pays less for health insurance "Monroe Public Schools will pay less for health insurance in the coming year because employees didn’t request much actual health care last year."
Superintendent: MESSA too expensive for us "If the Benton Harbor school board votes to hire a private company to take over busing, the main reason will be the cost of union-affiliated health insurance."
Compromise on D.C. vouchers "Students in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program would continue to receive vouchers for private school tuition for at least one year and possibly until they graduate from high school under a compromise suggested by the Obama administration."
Voters say no in Saugatuck "Voters rejected an 18-mill school tax renewal in Saugatuck on Tuesday, leaving Saugatuck Public Schools without 60 percent of its operating funds, according to The Holland Sentinel. Board members promised to return to voters in August with a better explanation of the district’s need for the money."
Union candidates win in Wayne-Westland "Three union-backed candidates won seats on the Wayne-Westland Board of Education Tuesday, following heavy campaigning on their behalf by the Michigan Education Association."
Parents wait for charter openings "More than 1,400 children are on waiting lists to attend charter public schools in Kent and Ottawa counties reflecting a steady increase in the schools’ popularity."
Six strategies key to school reform "The head of school turnaround efforts in Louisiana told state legislators Monday that six proven ways to improve failing schools are: early intervention, more time in school, alternative teacher certification, school choice, technology upgrades and data-based instructional management."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
Swine flu closes schools "All schools in Washtenaw County were invited to an emergency meeting today at the county health department regarding swine flu."
DPS: Merit pay and strike talk "Merit pay likely will be a sticking point in teacher contract talks in Detroit in coming months."
Charter buys church property "Midwest Creative Investments has purchased a former Catholic church campus as a site to expand its charter school operation."
Schools shouldn’t use race, poverty as excuse "In a critical assessment of Michigan public education, the president of Education Trust said Tuesday that the state must stop blaming race and poverty for poor student achievement."
DPS principals under review "Detroit Public Schools principals who have demonstrated success could be rewarded with multi-year contracts and more authority over the schools they lead."
Teachers pay more to keep MESSA "Teachers in the Bridgman Public Schools district agreed to pay higher deductibles and a larger share of the premium in order to retain the Michigan Education Special Services Association as their insurance administrator."
Survey: Teacher satisfaction up "Teachers today say they are more satisfied in their careers, feel more respected and are better compensated than 25 years ago."
Districts (quietly) consider consolidation "The Deerfield school board wants to learn more about school consolidation and annexation and an attorney says they aren’t the only ones."
Anonymous donor gives MSU $10 million "A $10 million gift arrived at Michigan State University recently in a FedEx envelope with little explanation and no one wishing to take credit."
Troy goes private, Rochester does not Rochester Community Schools will retain in-house custodial and transportation programs, while the Troy school district will hire an outside firm for busing.
GR: 'H' plan didn't turn around grades Only about 16 percent of the failing grades reported in five Grand Rapids high schools were converted to passing marks through the district’s “H” grading plan.
Merger talks end in Arenac County School consolidation talks have come to a halt in Arenac County, where Au Gres-Sims residents wanted to merge, but Arenac Eastern residents did not.
Few home-schoolers at MSU About 80 percent of home-school students who apply to Michigan State University are admitted, though only 35 percent of those admitted go on to actually enroll.
Capac talks continue "Contract negotiations continue in Capac Community Schools, though neither the district nor its teachers is saying much about their respective proposals."
High school has reopener clause "A Flint high school marked for closure next year could reopen in some format in five years, under a newly proposed long-range facilities plan."
Layoffs in Southfield "Anticipating a 350-student loss and consequential drop in state funding, Southfield Public Schools likely will lay off some 150 employees before the 2009-2010 school year."
Groups disagree on charter performance "The state board of education approved a favorable charter school report Tuesday, but will respond next year to arguments that its method of comparing charter performance with traditional schools is misleading."
Clerical workers leave MEA "Clerical workers in the South Redford School District recently left the Michigan Education Association in favor of forming their own union."
School officials travel at taxpayer expense "Genesee County school officials have spent at least $365,000 in the past three years traveling to conferences in Orlando and San Diego as well as closer to home."
Layoffs, closings and philanthropy at DPS Six hundred teacher layoffs and 23 potential school closings have been announced in Detroit Public Schools, as emergency financial manager Robert Bobb addresses a $306 million deficit.
Troy considers private busing Support personnel are offering wage concessions in the Troy School District as officials there review bids on outsourcing janitorial, transportation, food and grounds maintenance services.
School reform bills introduced "Legislation that would require “failing” schools to adopt a state-approved improvement strategy, including the option to become a charter school, has been introduced in the state Legislature."
Schools claim robotics title "Students from Utica, Milford Huron Valley and Pontiac Northern high schools teamed up to win the state championship in the FIRST Robotics competition on Saturday."
Schools-of-choice racism alleged, denied "Accusations and denials of racism erupted at a Madison School District town hall meeting Wednesday, where the topic was whether to allow more schools-of-choice students to enroll."
Stimulus funding released "The first $44 billion in education stimulus money is en route to states, but Education Secretary Arne Duncan said strings will be attached to the next round of aid."
Math scores up, others show minor change "Math scores rose while language arts, science and social studies scores showed little change in statewide results from this year’s Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests."
Slight increase in tuition tax credit programs "Fourteen states offer a total of 24 programs that provide financial support for parents to enroll their K-12 children in private schools, typically through scholarship-like tuition assistance, tax credits or tax deduction programs."
MEAP writing test written off "Faced with declining scores on last fall's exam, state education officials have decided not to test most elementary students in writing on the next Michigan Educational Assessment Program test."
Future teachers eye education reform "A University of Michigan student wants other aspiring teachers to join him in a club that would address their concerns with the teaching profession at large."
MEA pension plan set aside "A plan to boost teacher pensions as a way to move near-retirees out of the system has been shelved in the state Senate."
DFT: Change attitude on charters? "Members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers will vote April 2 on whether to end their opposition to charter schools."
Privatization debate in Adrian "Employees and residents have spoken out against the possibility of hiring private firms to provide custodial and bus service in Adrian Public Schools, but an official in a nearby district reported good results from private busing."
Grand Blanc reopens contract "Teachers in the Grand Blanc School District would pay more for prescription medication while the district would offer an early retirement incentive under proposed contract amendments."
Board weighs retirement plan "School board members in Central Montcalm Public Schools want to know how much a retirement incentive plan would cost the district before giving final approval."
Muskegon to give away buildings "Four nonprofit groups are still in the running to receive a free building from the Muskegon school district."
Charter report: Grad rates up, tests neutral "Charter public school students may be more likely to graduate and attend college than students in conventional public schools, though their overall academic performance is not necessarily better."
The Scene and the Unseen: Act III The Michigan Film Office's much-anticipated annual report about the Michigan Film Incentive program appears to significantly misrepresent a key figure, omits important information on Michigan job numbers, and fails to provide much of the detail the law requires, raising questions about the Film Office’s compliance with the law and its administration of the incentive program.
Private tuition grant needed, backers say "Students who rely on a state tuition grant to help them attend private Michigan colleges have asked lawmakers to keep the program intact."
No contract yet in Grand Rapids "Grand Rapids school leaders turned down the latest contract proposal from the district's teachers union, but the sides are expected to return to the bargaining table soon."
Gladstone recall halted "A recall drive of three Gladstone school board members has ended as part of a new, mediated effort between the school district and its teachers union to solve their differences."
Students expelled in teacher/drug case "The Harrison school board has permanently expelled a student allegedly involved in a case of putting a prescription drug into a teacher's beverage."
MichiganScience No. 9 MichiganScience is a Mackinac Center quarterly magazine that helps meet the need for accurate and accessible information about the increasingly complex scientific issues confronting voters and lawmakers. The magazine reflects the idea that even the most technical scientific policy issues can be discussed with lively prose and compelling visuals.
Must schools use money to keep teachers? "School officials are trying to figure out whether federal stimulus money must, can or should be used to avoid teacher layoffs."
Pontiac to lay off 700-plus "The Pontiac School District will lay off more than 700 teachers, support staff and administrators in view of projected overspending of $11.6 million in next year's budget."
Retirement costs headed up "Superintendents in Lenawee County are worried about the increasing cost of the state retirement system for school employees."
Home-schoolers adjust to recession "Home-school families are taking on night jobs, adjusting schedules and cutting back on expenses in tough economic times, but they are not giving up on home schooling."
Charter school needs more room "New Branches Public School Academy has outgrown its current location and may buy the Millbrook Christian School facility when that school relocates in 2010."
Jail-based academy offers GED "About 270 inmates in the St. Clair County jail have earned General Education Diplomas through Intervention Academy, a charter public school that operates within the facility."
Teachers get raise, pay more for insurance "Three Rivers teachers will pay more out of pocket for health insurance under the terms of a new contract that the superintendent said will minimize impact on the classroom."
Farmers want school customers "Farmers in southeast Michigan are looking for ways to sell their food to local schools, prisons and hospitals."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
KCC calls meeting on charter "Kellogg Community College will invite area school districts to a March meeting to discuss a proposed charter public school that would offer technical training to high school students."
Bond-for-sinking fund swap proposed "Mackinaw City Schools would temporarily suspend a sinking fund tax levy if voters pass a three-year-bond proposal this spring."
GR union slams school board on audiotape "The Grand Rapids school board says that comments made by union leaders during a Michigan Education Association conference show a lack of civility and may constitute bargaining in bad faith on the part of the Grand Rapids Education Association."
District weighs alternatives to alternative ed "Mount Pleasant Public Schools is weighing the idea of moving its alternative high school students to its traditional high school in a "school-within-a-school" scenario."
The Refuge: Spring 2009 "A man's house is his castle — et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium."
— Sir Edward Coke
Bill would open state health plan to schools "Schools and local government units would be allowed to enroll their employees in the state government health insurance program under legislation proposed by state Rep. Cindy Denby, R-Handy Township."
More school choice in Utica "Expanding its school-of-choice program, Utica Community Schools will open all of its 40 buildings to students from nearby districts this fall."
Lansing sees promise in Promise "The Lansing School District will apply for Promise Zone certification under a new state law allowing local authorities to capture some property tax revenue for college scholarships."
Merit pay takes center stage "Merit pay is likely to come under more consideration in Michigan schools in the coming year due to public support from President Barack Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan."
Huron Valley taking bids "Saying it can no longer afford the benefit package offered to some support employees, Huron Valley Schools is exploring outsourcing its transportation and food service operations."
Catholic school will market itself "Officials at St. Basil Catholic School plan an aggressive marketing and fundraising campaign to boost enrollment and improve revenue at the school."
Muskegon debates athlete GPA "It would cost an additional $50,000 in tutoring to keep all Muskegon High School athletes eligible to play if the district required them to carry a 2.0 grade point average."
MichiganScience No. 8 MichiganScience is a Mackinac Center quarterly magazine that helps meet the need for accurate and accessible information about the increasingly complex scientific issues confronting voters and lawmakers. The magazine reflects the idea that even the most technical scientific policy issues can be discussed with lively prose and compelling visuals.
DPS predicts payroll shortage "Detroit Public Schools won't be able to make payroll as of March 17 unless it arranges a loan or works out a new payment plan with employees."
ISDs plan cuts, share superintendent "The need to rein in costs might lead the Ingham Intermediate School District to stop providing staff for the local Special Olympics program."
New Jackson charter proposed "A former Jackson Public Schools administrator is proposing a new charter public school in Jackson in which students would receive credit when they show proficiency, whether that's earlier or later than in a typical school."
Saginaw fund balance disappears "Rather than the $6 million fund balance it thought it had, the Saginaw City School District now faces a budget that outspends revenue by $2.4 million."
Detroit charter ‘adopts’ KU "A Detroit charter school classroom has "adopted" the University of Kansas in a program designed to benefit each institution."
Vouchers proposed in Georgia "A Georgia senator has introduced voucher legislation that would allow any parent to use approximately $5,000 in state funding to send a child to the public or private school of their choice."
Wayne-Westland settles on raises, health concessions "Teachers agreed to health care concessions while the school district agreed to raises and smaller class sizes in a newly ratified contact in Wayne-Westland Community Schools."
Mom pledges $500,000 to private school "The mother of a student at a private Kalamazoo school has pledged $500,000 over three years to the school, the largest single cash donation in Kazoo School history."
Academy closes, students moved to night school "More questions than answers remain regarding the abrupt closing of the Highland Park Career Academy to all but seniors, according to media reports. Highland Park Schools told younger students last week that they should report to night classes at Highland Park High School instead."
Au Gres, Arenac consider consolidation "About 200 people attended a community meeting to discuss combining the Arenac Eastern and Au Gres-Sims school districts into one operation."
Health plan savings at $550,000 "Waterford School District saved $550,000 in two months through a new health care plan for teachers, but the plan remains a sticking point in union negotiations."
Retire now for better pension? "Older Michigan teachers would receive padded pensions in exchange for leaving the workforce soon under a plan in the works by the Michigan Education Association and a bipartisan group of lawmakers."
Bobb named DPS money manager "Robert C. Bobb, the new emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, said he will begin his work by examining the system's structure and contracts, and finish with systems in place to correct the district's fiscal woes."
Ingham ISD proposes cuts "Anticipated declines in property tax revenue, coupled with rising costs, could lead to cutbacks in staffing and programs offered by the Ingham Intermediate School District."
English as a second language "Immersed in the French language as a Dartmouth College student, teacher Kevin Smith now uses the immersion strategy with middle school students in Monroe."
Teacher resigns in Facebook flap "A first-year band instructor has resigned her teaching position after posting a Facebook comment alleging that a student had stolen an instrument."
Jackson opens online courses to home-schoolers "Jackson Public Schools has recruited about 10 home-schoolers to take online elective courses as a way to serve that population, while also reaping increased state funding due to the higher student headcount."
Board implements health plan; union may sue "Three Rivers school board members have voted to switch teachers to a different health insurance plan as a way to save money, but the teachers union may go to court to block the move."
Michigan School Privatization Survey 2008 Privatization of school support services is a time-tested means for lowering educational costs. The three major services that school districts in Michigan contract out for are food, custodial and transportation. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy's survey of privatization is the longest running and most comprehensive source of school support service data in the nation.
Promise Zone bills signed "Up to 10 "Promise Zone" authorities, designed to pay for college for students in high-poverty locales, could be created under legislation newly signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm."
Superintendent gets $100,000-plus separation deal "Under the terms of a separation agreement, Godwin Heights Superintendent Valdis Gailitis will receive $118,442 in salary in 2009 before his resignation takes effect Aug. 2."
Michigan is blessed with a wealth of the human and natural resources integral to building vibrant commerce and vigorous communities in the 21st century. At the moment, however, counter-productive public policies have made it harder for our industries to compete nationally and internationally and have reduced our state's attractiveness to investors and entrepreneurs.
In addition, Michigan is not immune to the gradual erosion of equity and basic human freedom that accompanies a steady growth in the power and scope of government.
Related to this, our government's ability to properly perform many critical functions, including education, has been jeopardized by policymakers' attempts to do too many things. This lack of focus has even led to confusion among policymakers over whether government exists to serve the people or vice versa.
There's a lot of work to do to reverse this, but there's good news. Once growth- and freedom-friendly policies are in place, recovery is likely to occur much more quickly than most people imagine.
For policymakers and voters serious about restoring freedom and economic vitality in the Great Lakes State, the Mackinac Center presents the following 101 recommendations.
This report is a compendium of work authored by Mackinac Center policy analysts and compiled by Senior Legislative Analyst Jack McHugh.
Board votes for higher-priced union labor "Against the recommendations of its consultant, the Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education agreed to use union contractors for renovations at three elementary schools, increasing the cost by 5 percent."
Parents question Chippewa Valley spending "Unhappy with spending on such things as catered meals and fruit baskets, as well as the use of bond money to purchase land, two parents have asked state officials to look into Chippewa Valley Schools' finances."
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL A review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Michigan Capitol Confidential will make it easier to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing.
Court backs union, privatization ‘chill’ debated "Opinions vary on whether a court ruling allowing Grand Rapids school bus drivers to continue to be represented by their public sector union — even after their jobs were outsourced — will "chill" a statewide trend toward privatization."
Teacher/coach jailed on sex charge "A Whitehall High School teacher and basketball coach has been charged with criminal sexual conduct involving a 15-year-old girl, and an investigation continues into possible other charges."
Private school to focus on teen dropouts "The Urban League of Battle Creek is opening a small, private school this month to serve teens who have dropped out of, or been expelled from, traditional and alternative schools."
Survey: Do voters want a new high school? "In an effort to gauge community support for construction of a new high school, Blissfield Community Schools is conducting both a random telephone poll and inviting voters to take an online survey."
Budget crunch hits metro schools "Increased energy, health care and retirement costs, coupled with declining enrollment and uncertain state funding, have pushed a number of public school districts into the red."
Online classes get a boost in some districts "More students will earn high school credit online and off campus in Michigan in 2009 due to a pilot program allowing some school districts to bypass "seat time" requirements."
