Charters Get Some CRED(O)
New study shows Michigan charters a huge success.
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Center Tally of 2013 State of the State Address
Gov. Snyder proposes eight expansions, two limitations. … more
Press Release: Cigarette Statistics A Real Drag
29 percent of Michigan cigarettes are smuggled. … more
An Open Letter to Sen. Gretchen Whitmer
Lindsey Dodge takes a different view of women and RTW. … more
The False Social Concerns About Right-to-Work
Poverty, lack of insurance not higher in right-to-work states. … more
Michigan Is a Right-to-Work State
Center experts a leading voice in Michigan, nationwide, in promoting worker freedom for more than 20 years. … more
Michigan Education Digest
Right-to-work legislation introduced, requested public charter school moves forward, school tax revenues approved for Red Wings … more
MPA and Mackinac Joint Statement on FOIA, Prop 2
Prop 2 dangerous to citizens' "right to know" … more
Proposal 1: Not About Local Control
"Local control is always at risk when cities go bankrupt." … more
Merit Pay: 80 Percent of Public Schools Shirk Law
Most union contracts refuse to reward good teaching … more
Proposal 4: Forced Unionization of Home-Based Caregivers
‘Dubious arrangement for the sole purpose of allowing the SEIU to pad its political coffers’ … more
Study: Prop 2 Would Shield Unions, Cost the Public
Center analysts estimate at least $1.6 billion in taxpayer savings lost annually … more
Prop 3 Could Cost 10,540 Michigan Jobs, Says Study
Study considers investment and costs of the ‘25 x 25’ proposal; effect of current 10 percent standard also estimated … more
Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Asks MERC to Reverse Unionization of Home-Based Caregivers
Seeks return of $3 million in skimmed ‘dues’ … more
Roscommon Teachers Decertify From the MEA
Local union will continue to negotiate with district. … more
Justices Wrongly Pressured on Union Proposal
Court of Appeals approves 'Protect Our Jobs'; backers try to bully Supreme Court justices ahead of final decision. … more
School Privatization Survey 2012
61 percent of districts now contract out for one of three main support services. … more
Help Wanted!
The Mackinac Center is seeking a vice president for advancement and a marketing and communications team leader. … more
Michigan Public High School Context and Performance Report Card Released!
New study provides a measure of schools' student test scores adjusted for student poverty levels. … more
Signatures Submitted in Home Health Scheme
Ballot initiative seeks to continue dues skim. … more
Interlocal Agreements Database
Search our collection of nearly 1,000 agreements between local governments … more
Study: Alcohol Regulations Don't Improve Public Health and Safety
State restrictions raise consumer prices, reduce availability. … more
Gov. Snyder Signs Law Ending Stealth Unionization
Home health care providers freed from SEIU dues skim. … more
Exclusive Mackinac Video as Featured on Breitbart
Breitbart's "Michigan Senate Republicans Allow SEIU To Bully Home Caregivers," based on Mackinac coverage of home health aides in Michigan. … more
State of the State: Government to Expand?
Our count of Gov. Snyder's proposals shows five expansions and one limitation. Will that be the whole story? … more
State of the State Tally Planned Tonight
Center experts available for comment after governor's speech. … more
Attorney General Entry Into U-M Grad Student Unionization Case
AG’s participation highlights ‘critical importance’ of upholding law and protecting rights of research assistants. … more
HELP WANTED: Executive VP, Attorney
We're expanding our team! … more
Defunded State Agency Still Operating
The MQC3 continues to collect millions in "public employee" union dues from private workers. … more
MERC Rejects U of M Grad Student Unionization Attempt
As the Mackinac Center requested, MERC rules that student researchers are not public employees. … more
U.S. 'Worse Than Greece'
David Littmann says the debt compromise just made things worse for the economy. Click for audio. … more
Eye of the Beholder
Government has no place funding art. … more
Day Care Unionization Scheme Ends; More Reform Necessary
State Supreme Court declares issue "moot," but home health care workers still affected. … more
Preying Upon the Most Vulnerable
"Union dues" skimmed from Medicaid checks for disabled individuals' aides. … more
E for Effort?
Despite recent reforms, schools still ignore teacher effectiveness when setting pay. … more
State Supreme Court Fails to Fix Disastrous FOIA Ruling
The Legislature should act swiftly to restore the intent behind Michigan’s public disclosure law, Center attorney says. … more
Taxpayers No Longer Prevailed Upon
Repeal of prevailing wage law will save money on state construction projects. … more
New Online Database of High School ‘Context and Performance’
Data for 678 schools range from ACT and MME scores to percentage of students qualifying for school lunch subsidies. … more
Are Unions an End in Themselves?
New rules make it harder for businesses to respond to both employee concerns and unionization efforts. … more
300 Sheets to the Wind
Archaic and convoluted distribution laws hurt local craft brewers. … more
Gaming the System
Federal subsidies for video games? … more
Veteran Lansing Reporter Joins Capitol Confidential
"Highly regarded" MIRS reporter and analyst, Jack Spencer, will cover Capitol beat. … more
Center Study Compares School District Finances by Locale
New report breaks down revenues and operational spending for Michigan's urban, suburban, town and rural districts. … more
Center Files Brief in Pivotal Wetland Case
Proof of criminal intent should remain necessary in prosecutions for most crimes. … more
Center, MPA File in Key FOIA Case
School district’s FOIA denial on illegal strikes suggests court ruling may hide improper activities. … more
Tax Takes Toll on Michigan
Find out what's wrong with the Michigan business tax. … more
Victory for Home-Based Day Care Providers
No more illegal "union dues" to be taken from checks to day care owners. … more
Center Budget Testimony
Michael LaFaive and Ken Braun testify before Michigan legislators on Feb. 9. … more
News Release: 2011 State of the State Tally
Gov. Snyder's first SOS included nine expansions and three limitations of government. … more
The EPA's War on Energy
Environmental attorney Peter Glaser discusses the EPA's assault on fossil fuels. … more
In the Trenches
Gary Wolfram refutes a study claiming Michigan public employees are being paid less than their private-sector counterparts. … more
News Release: State Supreme Court Lets Awful FOIA Ruling Stand
"The court’s failure to respond cripples the state Freedom of Information Act," says Mackinac Center lawyer. … more
High Cigarette Taxes Lead to Smuggling
Updated study points out correlation between excise taxes and smuggling, theft and violent crimes. … more
Center Suing Kent-Area School Districts, Unions
Suit seeks to purge illegal “no-privatization” contract language. … more
Full Court Press
Legal Foundation appeals day care unionization case to the Michigan Supreme Court. … more
A World of Questions
GlobalWatt MEGA deal investigated. … more
State Pension Plans Exceed Private Sector
New study examines disparity between public- and private-sector benefits.
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Unity Studios: Unhappy Ending
The glitter of Hollywood has left Allen Park taxpayers with overpriced real estate. … more
Appeals Court Dismisses Day Care Union Case
Forced unionization case dismissed without explanation a fourth time. … more
School Privatization up 8 Percent
Almost half of Michigan public school districts now contract out for one of three main noninstructional services.
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Flight Fight
New flight restrictions ground local pilots. … more
Plagiarism in MSU's School Consolidation Report?
A study published by Michigan State University’s Education Policy Center appears to contain plagiarized material. … more
Granholm Admits Role in Day Care Unionization
The governor boasted in 2008 about the forced unionization. … more
Knockout Punch
Michigan Education Association "punching bag" ads fail a Truth-o-Meter. … more
The Overton Window
Our newly designed page explains the late Joe Overton's model of how ideas shape politics. … more
Will It Fly?
Journalists keep probing the Hangar42 Studios subsidy deal. … more
News Release: State Ducks Central Question in Day Care Case
The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation replies to the DHS' meager brief. … more
Wright on Latest Loar v. DHS Filing
Read more about the day care unionization case. … more
