News Release: GDP Drop Exposes MEDC Failures
Michigan has had negative GDP growth since the inception of the MEDC while millions of tax dollars have been given to companies as tax credits and cash subsidies.
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Spending Habits
A graduated income tax is not the answer for Michigan's budget.
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News Release: Top Schools Post Checkbooks
Three top-performing Michigan school districts have posted their checkbook registers online as part of the Mackinac Center’s Transparency Project. … more
Michigan Privatization Digest
Pontiac budget, privatization, Manistee trash … more
Seeing is Believing
A look at government transparency efforts in the U.S. and Canada.
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Ask and They Shall Receive
Ken Braun tells lawmakers how they can fix their budget mistakes.
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Revenue Neutral
Municipal finance expert Robert Daddow discusses Michigan tax revenues. … more
Trading Places
Michigan's exports remain strong. … more
News Release: Daddow: 2020 Before Property Tax Base Returns
In a video interview, Mackinac Center Adjunct Scholar and Oakland County Deputy Executive Robert Daddow predicts "a decade problem" for Michigan governments and recommends they "do business differently." … more
David and Goliath
David Littmann discusses Michigan's fiscal failures. … more
Fearless Forecaster
David Littmann's take on the future of the auto industry. … more
News Release: Bill Curbs Regulatory Regime
New legislation would make legislators more accountable and limit regulatory agencies’ power, which Russ Harding called for in 2005.
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News Release: Labor Law for Charters
The Mackinac Center today released “Leveling the Playing Field,” a guide to labor law and how it applies to charter public schools. … more
Strong Words
The Mackinac Center provides a steady voice in uncertain times. … more
Can I Ask You a Question?
Questions Tea Party activists should ask political candidates. … more
News Release: Mich. Unemployment Could Rise
Mackinac Center Senior Economist David L. Littmann predicts in a video interview that Michigan could see 20 percent unemployment as a result of the auto crisis. … more
Tea Minus 10 Minutes
An easy guide to becoming a Tea Party activist. … more
Attitude Adjustment
Seven things that Tea Party activists get right. … more
Michigan Education Digest
Michigan Education Digest: School Reform, Swine Flu, Teacher Strikes. … more
Undefined Benefit
The Michigan school employees' retirement fund is losing money. … more
News Release: More Schools Embrace Transparency
More schools across Michigan, including the second and fifth largest districts, have responded to the Center’s call to post their checkbook registers online.
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Drawn to Liberty
A collection of Henry Payne's editorial cartoons for the Mackinac Center. … more
Straight Talk
Center analysts discuss what Michigan must do to survive. … more
News Release: AG Agrees Film Office Violated Law
A state attorney general's letter has confirmed the Michigan Film Office failed to report information required under state law. … more
News Release: Center Analysts on Chrysler 'Bankruptcy'
Taxpayers would be better served by a market settlement or Chapter 11 bankruptcy than by a plan dictated by the federal government. … more
Media Alert: Center Analysts Testify on Film Subsidies
Mackinac Center analysts today will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on inadequacies of a report on subsidies given by the Michigan Film Office. … more
Hitch a Ride
Michigan can't wait for the auto industry to rebound. … more
Siren Song
A look at who pays for the Michigan Film Incentive. … more
On the Bubble
TEA Party remarks by Mackinac Center President Joseph G. Lehman. … more
News Release: U.P. School Posts Spending
A tiny school district in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has embraced transparency by posting its spending online. … more
Mean Green Machine
A second look at "green" jobs this Earth Day. … more
A Rising Tide
Michigan's unemployment has increased since the 2007 tax hike. … more
Natural Selection
MichiganScience explores how and why more farmers are going organic. … more
Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble
Bailouts and stimulus packages equate to a government bubble. … more
High Impact
A video update of the Center's activities for the first quarter of 2009. … more
Apples to Apples?
Comparing school performance across the states. … more
A Different Bankruptcy
How T.S. Eliot and Russell Kirk viewed the "moral imagination." … more
Hoping for Change
State government should perform only necessary functions. … more
Those Are the Breaks
A television show contains many parallels with government's bailout addiction. … more
News Release: Reed on Great Depression at CMU
Mackinac Center President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed will discuss “Lessons from the Great Depression” April 13 at Central Michigan University. … more
Visa Credit or Debit?
Eliminating visas for Michigan resort workers can be seen two ways. … more
Bounced Check
Democracy through secret-ballot voting must be protected for workers.
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News Release: Reverse Coal Plant Ban
Gov. Granholm’s moratorium on coal-fired plants should be reversed to ensure reliable power and provide Michigan jobs. … more
Tax Tables
A comparison of Michigan's tax burden.
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Confidence Builder
Michigan Capitol Confidential readers can confidently question their legislators.
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Cinéma Vérité?
A Michigan Film Office report should have been left on the cutting-room floor. … more
News Release: Film Office Report Violates Law
A Michigan Film Office report features questionable figures and lacks the line-item details that state law requires, a Center video explains.
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News Release: David Littmann at MSU March 31
David Littmann, award-winning senior economist for the Mackinac Center, will discuss how and why the economy has faltered and what can be done to correct it.
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News Release: House Leader Posts Payroll
Michigan House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Bellaire, has embraced transparency during Sunshine Week by posting online the names and salaries of his staff. … more
Nuclear Reaction
A look at the cost and feasibility of nuclear power in Michigan.
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The First Two Letters of MEA
The MEA's pension plan is expensive and does not help students.
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Five Alive
Why government bailouts violate the principles of good government.
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Coming to a Head
Tax break for beer maker skews the playing field. … more
News Release: Politicians Must Walk the Walk
Sunshine Week provides a perfect opportunity for the media to investigate why politicians who accuse each other of not being transparent often are not themselves. … more
Labor Talks
Paul Kersey on how labor law can benefit workers instead of unions. … more
This Little Light of Mine
Politicians who talk about transparency should practice what they preach.
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News Release: Macomb Schools Post Spending
Romeo and Chippewa Valley are the first districts in Macomb County to respond to a Mackinac Center request for greater transparency. … more
Numbers Game
Secret ballots under EFCA: It can be done. In theory. … more
Public Comments About Private Property
Nancy Kurdziel addresses the East Lansing City Council … more
Truth Serum
How legislators vote and what they claim can be very different. … more
News Release: State Pays Unions $17 Million
Documents obtained by the Mackinac Center through a FOIA request show that Michigan taxpayers contributed more than $17 million to six unions in 2008.
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Charting a Course
Charter public school report contains good news.
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Lots of Zeroes in Trillion
Stimulus packages are nothing but theft and cowardice. … more
First in Something
Michigan once again leads the nation in outbound moves. … more
A Kelo of Prevention
A Mackinac Center forum on property rights in East Lansing.
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Cool Millions
The costs outweigh the benefits of global warming regulations. … more
Power Struggle
A moratorium on coal plants will further harm Michigan's economy. … more
Michigan Expensive Development Corporation
Proposed legislation could shed light on job creation performance. … more
An Encouraging Word
Not everything about the economy is disheartening. … more
Cornerstone of a Good Education
Northwood University is helping teach Detroit students about economics. … more
Drunk With Power
A new law further protects beer and wine wholesalers from competition. … more
Rookie Sensations
Two freshmen state representatives take transparency to a new level. … more
News Release: Legislators Provide Spending Transparency
While veteran state politicians talk about transparency and do nothing, two freshmen legislators have posted information on their Web sites detailing who works for them and how much they are paid. … more
Polluting the Environment
East Lansing's disrespect for private property rights is a toxic issue. … more
Dear Mr. President
How Ron Gettelfinger can help the UAW help automakers. … more
State of Crisis?
A Tally of Limitations and Expansions in the 2009 State of the State Address. … more
