Presented without comment, this excerpt from an item by John Peterson on the "AltEnergyStocks.com" site, which describes itself as a provider of "high-quality, original research into alternative energy, renewable energy, and clean technology companies":
A newly introduced bill in Michigan gives new meaning to the phrase "politically correct economic development." Included in Ed Clemente's introduced House Bill 6242, which would create a new government economic development commission, is a stipulation that members appointed by the governor must "be representative of this state geographically, racially, and with regard to gender."
When it comes to which model of vehicle Americans should buy, the federal government knows best — or believes it does. Not content with merely requiring that vehicles get better fuel economy, Congress is now considering legislation that favors the newest fad in green cars — the plug-in hybrid. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, a Senate committee yesterday approved two bills aimed at promoting hybrid vehicles, one of which would expand a $25 billion loan program aimed at fuel-efficient vehicles and the other a $3.6 billion bill sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., aimed specifically at plug-in hybrids.
What could have been a 'burning' issue for the incoming director of the state Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG) may be all but washed out. That's after a hearing Tuesday in Lansing before the director of Michigan's Bureau of Construction Codes, Irvin J. Poke. He heard comments from about three dozen people, most of whom were opposed to making fire sprinkler installation mandatory for new home construction in Michigan.
Ron Dzwonkowski at the Detroit Free Press wrote an article on the late Joe Overton, the man behind the Overton Window concept of political possibilities. Overton was vice president of the Mackinac Center, and his idea of a moveable window of politically acceptable public policies is now the title of a best-selling novel.
Michigan leaders who are enamored with building new light-rail passenger lines should look to Greece's experience with its railway system. The New York Times reports that Greece's Hellenic Railways is bleeding red ink at a rate of $3.8 million per day. The total debt of the Greek railway system has increased to $13 billion, or roughly 5 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. Greek government officials who are interested in selling a stake in the state railway system may have difficulty finding a buyer — the Greek rail system pays three times as much for interest payments on its debt as it takes in on revenues.
Michigan has lost forever the contributions of a stalwart freedom fighter: Chetly Zarko was found dead this morning at the age of 39. Reportedly, he slipped away while reading, sitting in a chair in his apartment.
Requieset in Pace.
Chet's greatest passion was defending the people's right to know through the state Freedom of Information Act. The University of Michigan's bureaucracy was one early target of his dogged pursuit of the truth.
Last spring, the Legislature adopted a largely-gutted version of a modest school employee pension reform proposed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in January. One of its features is what the governor and her speechwriters labeled a "hybrid" retirement plan for newly hired teachers, one that supposedly falls midway between a traditional "defined-benefit" pension and the modern "defined-contribution" or 401(k)-type plans.
The work of Mackinac Center analysts has provided information to challenge conventional wisdom on several points, and Michigan newspapers have taken note.
The Grand Rapids Press picked up on Michael Van Beek's work taking down the claim that public schools are underfunded, part of Van Beek's "Debunking School Funding Myths" series. The Press article quotes Van Beek saying "The real reason for school money troubles is not 'underfunding,' but a failure to contain employee costs that comprise about 80 percent of operational budgets."
Media outlets across the state are highlighting the debate about job-creation policies. Mackinac Center Fiscal Policy Director Michael LaFaive has long argued that tax incentives and subsidies are not the path to improving Michigan's economy.
The Grand Rapids Press is hosting a live chat about tax incentives at 12:30 today. For the chat, LaFaive will join Brigit Klohs, president of an economic development agency. Listen in and ask your own questions here.
(Cross-posted from The Michigan View)
On Monday, Rush Limbaugh dedicated a substantial portion of his show to an incredible article by Angelo M. Codevilla in the current American Spectator: America's Ruling Class — And the Perils of Revolution. (Here's the text of Limbaugh's monologue.)
With the appointment of an interim Senator in West Virginia, Democrats in Washington are pushing through an extension on unemployment benefits. Under current law, benefits run out after 99 weeks (up from a previous record high of 65 weeks in 1975).
There's valid argument that a compassionate society with a dynamic economy should provide unemployment benefits, and a legitimate debate regarding how much and how long. But recently, some have gone beyond this and argued not only that these benefits are necessary, but that they actually stimulate the economy.
Yesterday, President Barack Obama and Gov. Jennifer Granholm came to Holland bearing gifts: cash subsidies for an electric car battery plant owned by the Korean firm LG Chem. The federal contribution is $151 million in "stimulus" money, and Michigan taxpayers are kicking in another $100 million in cash (plus more later). Of course the real gift-givers are taxpayers, who are all but buying the plant for the company, given that its construction is expected to cost between $244 million and $303 million.
Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report to newspapers and TV stations showing how just the state legislators in each publication's service area voted on the most important and interesting bills and amendments of the past seven days. The legislature did not meet this week, so instead of votes this report contains eight newly introduced bills of interest:
Centrally planned jobs with a "green" focus are not the way to boost the economy in Michigan or nationwide, a Mackinac Center analyst told The Daily Caller, a Washington, D.C.-based political news website.
"There's no evidence that electric cars are the future; the market will sort that out," Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst, told The Daily Caller for a story about President Obama's appearance in Michigan Thursday to promote an electric car battery maker that received $151 million in subsidies.
By Jack McHugh
The operators of another Michigan electric car battery plant, A123 Systems, will receive a $100 million cash subsidy from the state for a 75-acre facility the company has leased in Romulus. The subsidy will be in the form of cash because the plant has been granted "renaissance zone" status by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
It must be acknowledged that there is more than a whiff of political calculation in Mike Bouchard’s embrace of right-to-work. The Oakland County sheriff and GOP gubernatorial contender trails in most of the independent polls. Embracing RTW gives him a way to distinguish himself from the rest of the field and generate enthusiasm among grass-roots conservative leaders and tea party activists who are paying closer and closer attention to the role that unions have played in Michigan’s economic struggles. Polls have consistently shown that a majority of Michigan voters support right-to-work in principle (that includes union households — check out question 20 here) and most of his primary competitors have at least left the door open for RTW as well. So why not embrace a potentially winning issue and see if you can ride it into the governor’s mansion?
The Obama administration has issued another moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil in the Gulf. The administration's initial temporary ban was struck down previously by federal courts. The ban on drilling in the Gulf has much in common with the ban on directional drilling for oil and gas under the Great Lakes imposed by the Michigan Legislature - both are knee-jerk reactions that are short on science and technical merit and long on political posturing. There have been thousands of wells drilled safely in the Gulf and eight wells directionally drilled under the Great Lakes without incident.
The Chinese market for Michigan goods continues to grow. So it's strange that politicians here continue to point fingers at Chinese trade for Michigan's economic decay.
Since 2005, Michigan's exports to China increased by 91 percent, while Michigan's exports to the world dropped by 14 percent, largely due to a substantial decrease in 2009.
The city of Detroit is slowly moving toward adopting a recommendation Center analysts made more than eight years ago.
The Detroit News reports that Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is proposing that the city buy electricity from DTE Energy. The $150 million contract is projected to save the city $3 million annually.
One thing my years as a government regulator taught me is that business hates uncertainty. Regulatory uncertainty is a major barrier to job creation in this state. Companies are reluctant to invest in new or expanded operations in Michigan unless they have a reasonable expectation that if they meet the necessary environmental requirements they will receive a permit in a timely manner.
Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report to newspapers and TV stations showing how just the state legislators in each publication's service area voted on the most important and interesting bills and amendments of the past seven days. The version shown here instead contains a link to the complete roll call tally in either the House or Senate. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.
Since the beginning of the national recession in December 2007, Michigan's private sector has lost 70 times more jobs than its government sector.
Specifically, there are now 388,100 fewer Michigan's private sector payroll jobs as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while government payrolls (which include federal, state, municipal and school employees) are down by just 5,400 jobs.
The cost of the Michigan film subsidy program continues to be ignored, according to a Mackinac Center fiscal analyst.
"The first lesson you learn in economics 101 class is at what cost," Mike LaFaive, director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, told The Detroit News.
Michigan taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief: The Detroit Free Press reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm has abandoned hope that her service tax will become law. At a news conference on an unrelated issue, the Governor stated that she did not expect the Legislature to enact her plan.
