Appeals Court Will Rule on Dismissal of MEA Lawsuit
Court puts trial on hold while it rules on free-speech case.
… more
Should State Government Be Its Own Personnel Manager?
Outsourcing could save $5 million per year or more. … more
Who Should Run Michigan's Lottery?
As long as the state is in the gambling business, it may as well be efficient about it.
… more
Long-Term Fix for State Budget
Ten ideas could put state government on the road to financial recovery.
… more
Lock in Savings with Prison Privatization
Most private prison operations save between 5 and 15 percent. Michigan could save hundreds of millions of dollars. … more
Should the Legislature Probibit 'Living Wage' Ordinances?
Legislative testimony examines the economic effects of wage laws. … more
House Committee Votes to Preempt Prevailing Wage Ordinances
Mackinac Center testimony was taken before the vote. … more
Executive Order Cuts School Funding
How the schools got cut by Gov. Granholm. … more
Genesee Parks Commission Considers Selling Land.
State government could learn from a budget-conscious county commission. … more
Symphony of Privatization
Government arts subsidies corrupt the arts. There is a better way. … more
Fairs to Remember
State fairs are here to stay, but the state budget need not subsidize them. … more
Kmart: Another MEGA Failure
Government subsidizes economic "winners" before they go bankrupt. … more
MEGA Jobs Program Is $45.5 Million Tax Loophole
To close corporate 'tax loopholes,' Gov. Granholm could start here. … more
Tribute to a Teacher
Celebrating an eminent economist on his 81st birthday. … more
Historic Preservation for Strip Malls?
The law of unintended consequences strikes again. … more
Gov. Granholm Proposes 14 Expansions of Government, 6 Limitations
Well Short of Engler’s Record 18 and Blanchard’s Record 19 Expansions … more
Special Education and Reading Achievement
Are educators pressured to dub slow readers as "learning disabled?" … more
Remembering Prague Spring
The persevering Czech people sent a message of resistance to tyranny everywhere. … more
Repeal of Prevailing Wage Law Could Have Closed this Year's Budget Deficit
Public schools alone would have saved $150 million. … more
Michigan's Budget Challenge
The introduction to a new Mackinac Center service with ongoing news, analysis, and commentary on the state budget crisis. … more
In Health Care, Put People Before Government
Universal health care is an idea whose time has come...and gone. … more
Does Holland, Michigan Need 'Living Wage'?
No law can make someone's labor more valuable just by making it illegal to pay him less. … more
Sales Tax on Services Is Bad Policy
But it is supported by some who benefit every time government raises taxes. … more
The Folly of 'Living Wage' Laws
They benefit high-skilled workers at the expense of low-skilled workers and taxpayers. … more
State Agriculture Department Spending Can Be Cut by One-Third
Report released today identifies $34 million in state agriculture budget savings and $59 million in one-time revenue. … more
New Union Financial Disclosure Rule Is Worker-Friendly
New requirements will go a long way to answering Michigan union members' number-one complaint. … more
An Interview with Lawrence Reed
Strike-the-Root.com asks the Mackinac Center's president about liberty's threats, political philosophy, and winning attitudes. … more
Telecom Rate Regulation Rings Hollow
The best telephone rate regulator is market competition, not government rules. … more
Why the State Must Tighten Its Belt
A $433 million start to fiscal responsibility. … more
Michigan Prison Costs and What to Do about Them
Corrections now consumes 17% of the state's General Fund. … more
Are Charter Schools Improving Student Performance?
They take more difficult-to-educate students, and they improve faster at charter schools. … more
Thomas M. Cooley and the Role of Government
One of Michigan's most eminent jurists would have opposed environmental policies that deprive citizens of the value of their property. … more
Reviewing Engler's Tenure
Michigan will feel his impact on school choice, taxes, and welfare for many years. … more
Union Agreement Threatens West Michigan Economy
Unwise labor agreements could make prosperous West Michigan more union-dominated and depressed like Flint and Detroit. … more


