For too long, Michigan law has made it easy for certain local governments to confiscate your property through dubious means, with some Southeast Michigan agencies being some of the most egregious offenders. However, the tide is starting to turn and provide Michiganders with a greater level of legal protections against such overreach. A new state law prohibits local law enforcement agencies from taking your personal property without first convicting you of a crime, while a pair of lawsuits are challenging the practice of practice of home equity theft by government.

Dr. William S. Smith will discuss quality-life measurements, compare the difference between the government and private insurance when determining treatment and talk about the push for rationing of medical care by federal and state governments.

How does Michigan insurance compare to that of other states? Why is insurance most expensive in Detroit? What fiscal impact does this have on the average household and also on the low-income household? Answers to these questions and more were recently addressed in a report published by Poverty Solutions, a research initiative at the University of Michigan, and these findings will be presented at this event.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy announces our 2019 Planning for Life Workshops around Michigan.

Please Join Sylvie Légère, President and Co-Founder of The Policy Circle, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy for a Policy Circle Conversation to discuss Free Enterprise.

What’s the right balance between local, state and federal control? What about the rights of citizens — should these vary widely based on where one chooses to live? This panel will feature a lawmaker, policy expert and local government advocate to talk about what is happening in Michigan and across the nation on these issues.

Do you have what it takes to be the next Hendrik Meijer, Henry Ford or Oprah? Find out at the Detroit Children’s Business Fair! On Saturday, May 4, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and TechTown Detroit will host up to 40 young entrepreneurs at TechTown Detroit, in Detroit, Michigan. Think you have what it takes to run a business? Join us and find out! Children ages 6-15 are welcome. Application deadline is April 15, 2019.

Join us to hear Dr. Larry Schweikart speak about his new biography title Reagan: The American President.

Seizure and forfeiture are important parts of the criminal justice system. In principle, this process is helpful for taking away assets from criminals and goods obtained illegally. But it’s easily abused, and Michiganders deserve to have their property rights protected. This panel will feature points of views from law enforcement, researchers and legislators. The discussion will be on why Michigan should continue to reform its civil asset forfeiture system and how to get it right.

Criminal justice reform will continue to be a hot topic in Lansing this year, as lawmakers on the left and right advance various proposals for reforming the system. But in order to properly evaluate the potential for successful change, it’s important to understand the nuts and bolts of how the system currently operates.