For decades, low housing costs were a strategic advantage for Michigan. Today, that edge has almost disappeared. Inflation, labor and material costs have all increased significantly in recent years, but home and rental prices are also elevated because of bad policy choices by Michigan lawmakers. It's time to do something about it.
This event will explore the causes behind the housing crisis, including rising construction costs, outdated zoning laws, stagnant population growth paired with increasing household numbers and the many government-imposed regulations. From energy mandates and licensing requirements to restrictive zoning and permitting delays, Michigan is pricing too many people out of accessibility.
We’ll also examine current state policies and proposals—many of which focus on subsidies and new mandates that do little to address the core issue: a lack of housing supply. Attendees will learn about viable reforms such as speeding up permitting, revising zoning rules, modernizing building codes and reducing unnecessary regulatory hurdles.
Join us as we unpack what’s driving the state’s housing affordability problem—and what must change to make Michigan a place where everyone can afford to live.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
5:30pm - 7:00pm
Cocktails and appetizers included
O’Halloran’s Public House and Hall
112 Macomb Place
Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Call our Events office at
This event is $10 per attendee and RSVP is required by
Jaimie Cavanaugh is state policy counsel at the Pacific Legal Foundation, where she works with legislators around the country to end burdensome laws and create opportunities for individuals to thrive.
Jaimie’s work as a former litigator led to the recognition of the right to economic liberty by the Georgia Supreme Court and ended New Jersey’s ban on selling cottage food. In Minnesota, she secured a victory for vintners who wanted to make wine with ingredients from other states, and eased needlessly restrictive continuing legal education requirements for attorneys. Additionally, she has published reports on certificate of need laws and written extensively about their harms.
Growing up outside of Detroit, Jaimie learned that people, not government, know what’s best for themselves and their families. That’s why her work also promotes protections for private property, equality, and economic opportunity.
Jaimie studied at the University of Michigan before earning her J.D. from the University of Colorado. Following law school, she completed a judicial fellowship with Justice Monica Márquez before spending five years at the Mountain States Legal Foundation and five years at the Institute for Justice.
David Guenthner is the vice president for government affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He joined the Center in 2018 as senior strategist for state affairs after 11 years with the Texas Policy Foundation. In addition to leading the Mackinac Center’s government affairs strategy, David also manages the Center’s criminal justice policy portfolio.
Beyond his role at the Mackinac Center, David serves as a Partner Advisor for the Michigan Justice Fund and co-chairman of the Michigan Electoral College Coalition. He is a private sector member on the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development for the American Legislative Exchange Council, having previously served three years on its Task Force on Criminal Justice.
David received his B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, with a double major in political science and speech communication and a minor in economics. He is a 2020 graduate of the Atlas Network’s Executive Accelerator and a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies.
