Results 601 to 700 of 817

Dear Tax Raisers: Please Tell Us Where to Cut

… health care for the kids? Consume less food or clothing? Remove ourselves to cheaper homes and apartments? Eat out less? Take in fewer of the Hollywood films we're subsidizing to the tune of $100 million or more a year? No doubt tax-hike proponents will point to the need for tax revenues to pay for core …

'Detroitification' Happens to States and Nations, Too

… growth by draining and causing misallocations of private sector resources. Michigan is rife with such harmful policies. To cite just two, we have a film producer subsidy program, and a raft of corporate welfare subsidies that hand over hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to so-called "green jobs" …

Cash, Corporations, Unions and Free Speech

… individual liberty. The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, involved the government preventing a nonprofit group from advertising a film depicting Hillary Clinton in an unappealing light right before an election. The Supreme Court found the government had improperly restricted political …

Alex Chilton R.I.P.

… album in the 1970s ended up forming an alternative rock band in the 1980s. Never heard of them? Trust me, you've heard their performances on countless film soundtracks, and the Chilton-composed "In the Street" served as the theme song for "That '70s Show."  After Big Star, Chilton fronted the rockabilly …

Hangar42 Deal Shows Misguided Incentive Policies

The Michigan Attorney General's Office has filed a criminal charge against Joseph Peters, the primary investor in the Hangar42 film infrastructure tax credit/subsidy deal. The Mackinac Center in May was the first to raise questions about this deal after an investigation lasting several months. In June …

Analysis: Plagiarism, Flawed MSU Studies, and the People vs. the Ruling Class

… paid for by those unions). A third flawed MSU study paid for by the state's economic development bureaucracy buttressed its own specious claims that film producer subsidies are a wise use of taxpayer dollars. Consider this latest action from a pillar of the state's academic establishment in light of the …

Horse Racing Subsidies Fail to Win, Place or Show

… fund, where, among other things, ironically it subsidizes other programs in a rapidly multiplying "economic development" empire, such as handouts to film and car battery makers. Ideally, the state should have eliminated the wagering tax when it cut funding to the industry. For the past decade lawmakers …

Analysis: Horse Racing Subsidies Fail to Win, Place or Show

… fund, where, among other things, ironically it subsidizes other programs in a rapidly multiplying "economic development" empire, such as handouts to film and car battery makers. Ideally, the state should have eliminated the wagering tax when it cut funding to the industry. For the past decade lawmakers …

GlobalWatt Claims on Applications for MEGA Deals Disputed, Raise Questions About MEDC Scrutiny

State Should Investigate GlobalWatt’s Claims, Says Center Analyst

… LaFaive added. ~~~~~ See also: Mackinac Center Investigation Leads to Criminal Charge Attorney General Heeds Requests for Investigation of Embattled Film Studio Senator Says MEDC Should Stop Believing Its Own Press Releases Owner of "One Dollar" Race Track Property Was Not Sent Tax Bills for Two Years …

The Rise of 'Multi Stream' Media

… movie "Capitalism: A Love Story" had qualified for a lavish refundable tax credit from the state of Michigan paid for by this state's taxpayers. The film criticized Wall Street for taking the bailout and taxpayers' money.

Cash, Corporations,Unions and Free Speech

… individual liberty. The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, involved the government preventing a nonprofit group from advertising a film depicting Hillary Clinton in an unappealing light right before an election. The Supreme Court found the government had improperly restricted political …

Gov. Granholm Offers Nation Advice on Job Creation

… ~~~~~ See also: "...Funny Numbers They Pull Out of Their Backside" Does Michigan Adding Jobs in July Redeem the Granholm Record? Governor Describes Film Subsidies as Jobs Program, so "Why Not Give Them Spoons?" NOT Blown Away

The Rose-Colored Glasses of Political Dusk

… economy, we targeted six emerging sectors for growth: clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, homeland security and defense, tourism and the film industry." Gov. Granholm and her staff followed the example of every previous governor back to Kim Sigler in 1947, "targeting" a handful of industries …

A Fresh Start

… www.mackinac.org/9021 End annual appropriations to the 21st Century Jobs Fund ($75 million appropriated in current-year budget). www.mackinac.org/7123 Eliminate state film production subsidies. (The Department of Treasury estimates these will cost $155 million this year.) www.mackinac.org/ 10733 Privatize one or more …

FOIA Law Enhances Center's Research and Reporting

… that privatize noninstructional services is also compiled through responses to FOIA requests. After Gov. Jennifer Granholm highlighted a Grand Rapids film-studio project, the Center used FOIA requests to begin an investigation that exposed an alleged attempt to defraud the state out of $10 million. The …

Updates

… individuals could face felony charges for attempting to defraud taxpayers by inflating the price of an old Lear plant, which they intended to develop into a film studio, in order to gain millions of dollars in state tax credits. The Mackinac Center first drew attention to Hangar42 last year after a months-long …

FOIA Law Enhances Center’s Research and Reporting

… that privatize noninstructional services is also compiled through responses to FOIA requests. After Gov. Jennifer Granholm highlighted a Grand Rapids film-studio project, the Center used FOIA requests to begin an investigation that exposed an alleged attempt to defraud the state out of $10 million. The …

Granholm the Tax Cutter?

… Redeem the Granholm Record? Mackinac Center Video: Gov. Granholm Boasts of Role in Forced Unionization of Home Day Care Workers Governor Describes Film Subsidies as Jobs Program, so "Why Not Give Them Spoons?"  

Launching Young Minds to a New Frontier

To boldly go where thousands of students have gone before

… debate at www.mackinac.org/15891. Speakers this year included Greg Rehmke, director of educational programs for Economic Thinking/E Pluribus Unum Films; Mike Winther, debate coach and president of the Institute for Principle Studies; and Harris Kenny, a policy analyst with the Reason Foundation. Rehmke …

Some Tea Partiers Gunning For Republican Senate Majority Leader

Sen. Richardville out of sync on 'right-to-work' and 'forced unionization'?

… Richardville likely to put him at odds with limited government Tea Party groups: While Gov. Rick Snyder has capped the previously unlimited state film subsidy program at $25 million annually, Richardville said that amount of money “isn’t enough” and that he was working to increase it to $100 million. …

How CapCon Uses Transparency Laws to Hold Government Accountable

… health care workers, many of them taking care of their own relatives. The multi-million dollar forced unionization of up to 70,000 day care providers. A film credit scandal that attempted to use taxpayer money for a studio, which lead to a felony charge. Paying millions for school union heads who are paid …

City Pays Pension and Benefits to Almost Twice As Many Retired As Current Workers

Allen Park's benefits busting the budget

… benefits to 229 former workers. ~~~~~ See also: Allen Park Turns to Residents For Bad Investment Bailout - City loses tens of millions in quest for film business The Problem With Allen Park A City At the End of Its Rope Local Government Stories

Grand Traverse Residents 'Occupy' the Boardman

… devastating effect of the drawdown at Brown Bridge Dam.” The OTB protest is scheduled to extend throughout the weekend, and coincides with the Traverse City Film Festival, which is organized by Michigan political firebrand Michael Moore and this year features an appearance by actress and political activist Susan …

Teaching Teachout on the DIA Deception

… of the approved millage. Fair enough, but this “free admission” doesn’t include all museum galleries, special exhibits and entrance to the Detroit Film Theater. Teachout concludes: “No arts organization, however important it may be, is entitled to succeed. It must keep on proving its worth to the …

Before Emergency Manager, Pontiac Had 87 Different Health Plans

One plan for all government unions will save taxpayers millions, eliminate bureaucratic mess

… Unions Bankrupt Governments? - What the fight over Public Act 4 is all about A City At the End of Its Rope - Allen Park strikes out with subsidized film studio; can't get concessions from government unions and is forced to request an emergency manager The Problem With Allen Park - City owes tens of …

The Perils of Politicians' Promises

… grow over the decades in both size and scope. The 21st Century Jobs program was perhaps the high water mark of this trend (the subsequent open-ended film producer giveaways enacted in 2008 might be considered its reductio ad absurdum). So who won that 2005 radio debate? There was no panel of judges …

Video Confirms Negative Union Stereotypes

A previous post here described and shared a 1999 video filmed by the Saginaw-based United Auto Workers Local 699 at an event reminding members to vote for union-backed candidates, including a speaker discussing the union’s political influence in particular with a local judge. That’s not the only passage …

MEDC Questioned About Its Transparency

Questions about how tax dollars spent could warrant new legislation

… The MEDC describes itself as "a public-private partnership serving as the state's marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent, and jobs, tourism, film and digital  incentives, arts and cultural grants, and overall economic growth." One of the most recognized of the MEDC's responsibilities is Pure …

Time to 'Sequester' Arts Subsidies

… collects taxes for a tri-county arts council and a projected $230 million Detroit Institute of Arts endowment fund as well as the $25 million Michigan Film Tax Credit and another $25 million for the Pure Michigan campaign. This while both our state and nation struggle to find solid economic footing while …

Right-to-Work Should be Judged on Economic Data

Corporate welfare inquiries not a good barometer of success

… 2010. During this period other programs were created including a “Tech TriCorridor Initiative,” a “21st Century Jobs Fund,” open-ended subsidies for film producers and a myriad of other industry du jour attraction policies. Despite all this government economic activism, Michigan lost a net 813,100 jobs …

How to Tell What a Bill Actually Does

… law to protect citizens from killers does so by "prohibiting" murder. A bad law to "create jobs" won’t hire anyone but it may directly "subsidize" film makers. ObamaCare's official name is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. There are three main things the 2,000-page law actually does: …

Low-Hanging Fruit Can Help Fund Roads

There's plenty of money in the current budget

… would save $300 million a year. If lawmakers regard a complete dismantling as too far of a reach, they could at least forgo doubling expenditures for film producer subsidies from $25 million to $50 million. Forking over these taxpayer dollars to Hollywood moguls just adds taxpayer insult to a huge tax …

Google Doesn't Hit Ann Arbor Job Projections, But Still a Media Favorite

Company says it has 400 employees since 2007

… Board of Scholars. Douglas said the media coverage often fails to address the costs of big taxpayer-financed deals with high-interest topics such as film subsidies involving celebrities, tax breaks for sports arenas and popular sports teams and mega companies like Google. “I think the media being seduced …

February 13, 2015, MichiganVotes Weekly Roll Call

Presidential primary, absent voting, subsidies ate the budget.

… $16 million from the budget that had been appropriated for disaster relief but not spent. The largest real cut is reducing state subsidies paid to film producers this year from $50 million to $38 million. Another $17.8 million will be saved by trimming a number of Department of Corrections programs …

The Rise and Regulation of Craft Beer

Comparing Michigan to competitors in the microbrewing game

Michigan’s recently-deceased film subsidy program showcased the lure of the California dream — movie productions dotting the state, creating economic miracles everywhere they appeared. That particular vision did not come to pass, but there are better ways Michigan can meet, emulate or exceed California’s …

Whether Winning or Losing, Stay on Offense

… some corporate welfare deals “the heroin drip of state government” and our research proves he was right. Our comprehensive approach killed the state film subsidies and helped pare back a new deal intended to force all taxpayers to support the fashionable data center industry. In football, defense can …

Majority of States Now Right-to-Work

How The Mackinac Center Spreads Worker Freedom in Other States

… stories, research, and the video “Labor Reform in the States” were all used by local groups to educate policymakers. The Center also arranged for a film crew from one of the top political talk shows in West Virginia, “Decision Makers,” to drive to Michigan for interviews with key figures in the state, …

Cut Corporate Welfare to Help Balance State Budget

Tenuous relationship between corporate welfare and economic health

… that roughly 19 percent of the jobs promised actually materialized. That doesn’t take into account the costs of running the program. The Michigan film incentive program paid out more than $500 million in taxpayer money before it was canceled in 2015. Even one of the MEDC’s own paid consultants found …

Potential Corporate Welfare Binge Risks Second Michigan ‘Lost Decade’

Gov. Rick Snyder scaled back the giveaways in 2011

… a new governor steered a different course. Gov. Rick Snyder scaled back the pace of corporate giveaways, eventually ended a disastrous $500 million film subsidy adventure and replaced a destructive gross-receipts-type business tax with a simpler and less onerous corporate income tax. It appears to …

Recommendations for Reform

… Boost Broadband?” (Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Jan. 29, 2002), https://perma.cc/MP45-SFWH; Michael LaFaive, “Special Effects: Flawed Report on Film Inventive Provides Distored Lens” (Mackinac Center for Public Policy, June 12, 2009), https://perma.cc/5FLX-8DYF.

Don’t Bring Back Granholm’s Tax Credit Legacy

Legislators are considering it

… Republican-led Senate passed multiple bills that gave large tax breaks and subsidies to specific industries, primarily auto companies, battery firms, film studios, and companies involved in so-called green energy. In the meantime, taxes were raised on individuals and other businesses. Most of those favors …

Don’t Bring Back Granholm’s Tax Credit Legacy

… Senate passed multiple bills that gave large tax breaks and subsidies to specific businesses and industries — primarily auto companies, battery firms, film studios, and companies involved in so-called green energy.  In the meantime, taxes were raised on individuals and other businesses. Most of those …

Mackinac Center Hosts Corporate Welfare and Special Interests Working Group

… commentaries and policy briefs on the subject. Leaders from think tanks across the country discussed their own original research on their states’ film subsidy and tax increment financing programs, “Quick Action Closing” funds and more. While the amount of research done by think tanks is impressive, …

Return of the Mega Subsidy

Corporate welfare still demonstrably ineffective

… make decisions based on rational arguments that are steeped in scholarly evidence. The Good Jobs for Michigan proposal should go the way of MEGA, film subsidies and rural broadband deployment before it has the chance to do any damage.

State Corporate Welfare Didn't Work For Greenville

Centerpiece of previous governor’s economic policy, has also been favored by current candidates

… incentives from state, county and city governments. The result was a $45 million tax incentive package for United Solar Ovonic, which would make thin-film solar cells in Greenville. Granholm toured the company facility in Greenville in March 2008. According to the Detroit Free Press, it employed 185 …

Advocates Of Green-Themed Spending Program Say It Boosts Economy

‘But studying butterflies and dragonflies ... has no direct impact on property values,’ says critic

… multiplier effects to get people to support more taxpayer funding. They have advocated things such as transit spending, the Earned Income Tax Credit, film tax subsidies, arts spending, historic preservation tax credits, early childhood education and tourism advertising. Jason Hayes, director of environmental …

Real Stories and Real People: Why It Matters

The failures of the state to effectively subsidize individual companies or industries are numerous. The film studios of Hangar 42 in West Michigan and Unity Studios in Allen Park both ended in scandal. A123 Systems and LG Chem were subsidized battery companies that went bankrupt. Renewable energy projects …

Not Much Difference Between Current Corporate Handouts and Recliner Subsidies

Slouching towards subsidies

… economy. This means that their costs are real. The people who want Comfort Michigan could argue that recliner subsidies are costless, too. It’s what film producers did when they got taxpayers in Michigan to pay for 42 percent of their expenses. And lawmakers bought it, too, though they wisely reconsidered …

Union Twists Man’s Inspirational Bootstrap Story Into Smear

‘Misguided human beings . . . using other people as pawns’

… Contractors, a national trade association of nonunion businesses. His message to the dozen or so prospective trainees in attendance when the video was filmed? Achieving your goals of secure, well-paid employment that will support your dreams and a happy family will require sacrifice and perseverance. You’ll …

The Fairest of Them All: Pushing Lawmakers for a Tax System With No Winners and Losers

… and make as much as another $500 million available to corporate interests. Coincidentally, the state’s now-shuttered program to subsidize Hollywood film production wasted roughly that amount before it was repealed and seen as a failure. In August, the Mackinac Center explained the case against Good …

Conclusion

… reviews of the state’s Pure Michigan tourism subsidy program, the Michigan Business Development Program, the 21st Century Jobs Fund and the state’s film incentive program. For this study, the Mackinac Center created a database of 7,300-plus deals found across 49 documents, all but two of which were …

Unions' Challenge to Michigan Opt-in Rules is Flawed

Employees should be free to make whatever choice they wish

… their choice, the unions would lose approximately a combined $4,692,000in annual dues. This is despite a personal appeal by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who filmed a video asking employees to reauthorize dues on Aug. 21, 2020. Whether the remaining 27% of MCSC employees authorize dues deductions is ultimately …

A Call to Cut the Income Tax

Let taxpayers keep more of what they earn

… expressed interest in approving $300 million in select business subsidies. Michigan’s cities asked for $250 million. Some lawmakers want to subsidize film production again, apparently not having learned the lesson from the $500 million spent on it previously — it’s a net loser for both taxpayers and the …

Let’s Cut the Michigan Income Tax

… interest in approving $300 million in select business subsidies. Michigan’s cities asked for an extra $250 million. Some lawmakers wanted to subsidize film production again, apparently not having learned the lesson from the $500 million spent on it previously — it’s a net loser for both taxpayers and the …

National Renewal and the Prescription for a Better Future

A Keynote Address by Arthur C. Brooks at Northwood University

… Entrepreneurship” (2008). He is a columnist for The Atlantic, host of the podcast “How to Build a Happy Life,” and subject of the 2019 documentary film “The Pursuit,” which Variety named as one of the “Best Documentaries on Netflix” in August 2019. He gives more than 100 speeches per year around the …

A Policy Guide to Corporate Handouts

… Recession: Evidence from Midwestern Cities?” called the program a debacle. From 2008 to 2015, the state also dished out $500 million for a separate film incentives program but could show little in the way of job creation as a result. A consultant hired by the state found the program was a net negative …

How Is Gov. Snyder Doing So Far?

… get goodies — programs like the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and the film subsidies have not worked. Ironically, Republican Gov. John Engler started … on his unsuccessful initiative, creating boutique incentive programs for film, battery, solar, windmill and other industries. While officials churned …

MichiganVotes.org April 15 Weekly Roll Call Report

… Rick Snyder recommended be appropriated in place of the currently unlimited film subsidy program. Presumably, legislation will also be passed repealing those unlimited subsidies, but this has not happened yet (and this week a new film called "AWOL" was approved for a $1.8 million subsidy). The same budget …

How Is Gov. Snyder Doing So Far?

… the table — programs like the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and the film subsidies have not worked. Ironically, Republican Gov. John Engler started … on his unsuccessful initiative, creating boutique incentive programs for film, battery, solar, windmill and other industries. While officials churned …

Commentary: 'Corporate Welfare' Hype Yields Few Economic Results

The companies promoted by the MEDC on Youtube are in financial trouble

… state corporate welfare success stories, including subsidies for Hollywood film producers and “green energy” speculators. The reality is a playlist of crony … off the balance of a $528.7 million government loan. The MEDC video on a film studio proposal calling itself Unity Studios follows a similar script: …

Mendacity Writ Large

Walter Duranty, the Pulitzer and 'truthiness'

… reviewer is reminded of a scene in “Che,” Steven Soderbergh’s hagiographic film about the butcher of Fidel Castro’s 1959 overthrow of the Batista regime … populate the play, including Soviet press commissar Konstantin Oumansky, film director Cecil B. DeMille and the purveyor of “dark magick” Aleister Crowley. …

Michigan 8th Congressional District GOP Primary Getting Feisty

Former Sen. Mike Bishop vs. State Rep. Tom McMillin

… these corporate subsidies paid for by Michigan taxpayers, such wind power, film subsidies …” As Senate Speaker, Bishop did stand against then-Gov. Jennifer … Targeted In 86th District House Primary Race Contrast Over Right-to-Work, Film Subsidies, Detroit Bailout In 31st District Senate Race Select Business …

What’s Old is New Again: Another Subsidy Program Being Considered by Legislature

Good for politicians and well-connected businesses, bad for Michigan

… their favoritism. Subsidies to build electric vehicle batteries and produce films were recent Michigan programs that showed not even huge handouts can overcome … the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to produce a paper on its film subsidy program. The university’s sure-fire method to demonstrate the program …

Science vs. the Chlorine Scare

… advantage of the element known as chlorine. Chlorine is found in such diverse products as teflon, compact discs, birth control pills, photographic film, sofa cushions, linoleum, and lawn chemicals. It is used in 85 percent of all pharmaceuticals and in 96 percent of all pesticides. It purifies 98 percent …

The Rediscovery of Booker T. Washington: Lessons for Black History Month

… encouraging business ownership and wealth creation by blacks. Mariotti, in his book, The Young Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting and Running a Business, cites film-maker and entrepreneur Spike Lee’s comment that African Americans have long been taught to work for somebody else instead of building their own businesses …

A New Baseball Statistic for Opening Day

… Pitched Strike Outs, Runs, and Team Home Runs and publish them on sports pages next to box scores (see table).  Like Kevin Costner said in a recent film, "We count everything in baseball."  Why not how much the fans shell out of their pockets in taxes for each strike out?  That home run by Bobby Higginson …

Alexander Graham Bell Meets George Eastman

… simplified the camera to the size of a box of Kleenex. By 1900, he had cut the cost to the consumer to just $1 for the camera and 15 cents for a roll of film. Bell and Eastman were contemporaries (the former died in 1922 at the age of 75, the latter in 1932 at the age of 78). Both men would undoubtedly …

C. What the Packaging Industry Has Been Doing on Its Own

… once used as a laminate material in multilayer paper and plastic packages has been replaced in many applications by metalization, which coats plastic film or paper with gaseous aluminum. Rather than ship water, many firms are now test-marketing concentrates of such products as laundry detergents and …

“Not Yours to Give”

Disney’s new film "The Alamo" is reintroducing the American people to a once-celebrated backwoodsman-turned-politician. Davy Crockett, who died at the Alamo in 1836, forged his commoner’s roots and southern gentility into a Congressional career marked by a principled defense of limited government. …

The Silver Lining to the Toyota Deal

… of property taxes from Michigan’s homeowners and businesses. In fact, in 1984, Sen. Carl Levin won re-election by running television ads that showed film footage of his opponent giving a speech to Japanese executives and telling them how much he loved his Toyota. Two years before that, a Chinese-American …

High school debate students hone skills and vie for scholarships at four workshops

Student: “Attend Mackinac Center Debate Workshop to kick-start season!”

… published widely on the economics and history of a variety of public policy issues, directs educational programs for Economic Thinking/E Pluribus Unum Films, a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Wash. This year’s debate workshops also included special appearances in Livonia and Jackson by Kary Moss, executive …

Obituary for Stephen P. Dresch

… corners, revealing domestic and international corruption, including bioterror threats to society. Some of these events are documented in an independent film Stephen participated in, the trailer of which may be seen at www.deadinthewoods.com. Stephen was an adjunct scholar at the Mackinac Center for Public …

Jazzing Up Civil Society

… to the best grant writers or to politician’s subjectively favored artists. Government grants also come with government restrictions. The Ann Arbor Film Festival, for example, effectively lost state funding due to the violation of one such parameter. In fiscal year 2007, the state of Michigan is expected …

Doom for Whom?

… government stopped hosting the annual "Swine Quiz Bowl" tournament for high school students? Would businesses refuse to locate here if we didn’t subsidize film festivals showcasing productions few taxpayers would pay for voluntarily? The fact that taxpayer subsidies for such programs still exist suggests that …

Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s 2008 State of the State Address

Proposed Expansions/Limitations of Government

… trumpeting our virtues across the nation and around the world. 2. We agree that we must pass the most robust incentives in the nation to spur growth of the film industry in Michigan. 3. We agree that we must spur the cultural life that makes cities attractive places to live and visit. 4. First: the Michigan …

William F. Buckley Jr., RIP

… 25 years, Kirk’s "From the Academy" column. The magazine also managed to embrace culture, featuring as it did for many years the sometimes truculent film criticism of John Simon. Miraculously, many of these views took hold. Buckley himself became a cultural institution, appearing on his "Firing Line" …

Changing Direction. Are We There Yet?

… example, $100 million of next year’s projected deficit is because the Legislature created an open-ended window from which Hollywood moguls who shoot a film here can make withdrawals from the state treasury. Another handout to a "sexy" high-tech firm reportedly will cost some $900,000 per job created! (If …

Michael Crichton, RIP

… cells of the patient's daughter and infant grandson. While his fiction garnered widespread popularity and acclaim, as well as inspired blockbuster film adaptations, Crichton also was a tireless champion of divorcing fantasy and fiction from real scientific inquiry. He sought to preserve science as …

Green Jobs: Field of Delusions

In the film and book “Field of Dreams” protagonist Ray Kinsella hears a voice that whispers, “If you build it, he will come.” This may work as justification for constructing a baseball diamond in the middle of an Iowa cornfield, but as an analogy upon which to base a whole new economy, it’s nothing …

How to Save $2.2 Billion

… percent, the savings would be: $70 million. Eliminate the cash subsidies that this year will transfer $88 million from Michigan taxpayers to Hollywood film producers and $131 million next year. Split the difference between current and next year's costs and conservatively project savings of: $100 million. …

Just the Facts

Field of Delusions

In the film and book "Field of Dreams" protagonist Ray Kinsella hears a voice that whispers, "If you build it, he will come." This may work as justification for constructing a baseball diamond in the middle of an Iowa cornfield, but as an analogy upon which to base a whole new economy, it's nothing …

TEA Party Activists Can Keep Their Momentum

… with the Anderson Economic Group to issue a report documenting many problems with Michigan's business tax incentives, such as the MEGA and Michigan Film Incentive programs. The MEA doesn't usually agree with us publicly, but their arguments echo those we've made since 1995, and their report cites our …

What Is the Michigan Economic Development Corp.?

… Commission to the Michigan Strategic Fund. These programs included the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, Michigan Travel Bureau/Travel Michigan, Office of Film and Television Services, and administration of the Michigan Renaissance Zone Act, among others.[6] The Michigan Strategic Fund is an economic development …

Food Stamps and Dyseconomics

… misguided as the notion that raising the minimum wage puts "new money" into the economy. As with any entitlement or stimulus program, from food stamps to film incentives, the money that is given out first has to be taken away from someone else. The formula for "economic activity" attributable to food stamp …

The Expensive Mystery of “Project Cherrywood”

… to a monster movie with a novel premise: a supposedly uncut amateur video of what turns out to be a Godzilla-like creature attacking Manhattan. The film begins with an official-looking Defense Department header describing what follows as footage recovered from a camcorder found at the scene of "Case …

High School Debate Workshops: “I Have Seen the Influence”

… government in addressing poverty. This year's speakers were: Greg Rehmke, director of educational programs for Economic Thinking/E Pluribus Unum Films, a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Wash. Rehmke presented ideas for addressing America's poverty problem through means other than government welfare. …

Parents pin hopes on charter school lottery

Popular Ypsilanti academy draws hundreds of applicants

… the South Arbor gymnasium after the event. The two-hour lottery followed a strict protocol, including a rule that it be videotaped. As the camera filmed, the names of all applicants in a given grade were placed in a container and drawn at random by an independent third party. As they were drawn, each …

Parents Pin Hopes on Charter School Lottery

… the South Arbor gymnasium after the event. The two-hour lottery followed a strict protocol, including a rule that it be videotaped. As the camera filmed, the names of all applicants in a given grade were placed in a container and drawn at random by an independent third party. As they were drawn, each …

Think Tank of the Future

… happened when we broke the story that filmmaker and crusader against corporate subsidies Michael Moore applied for his own subsidy from the state's film office. We now have the best public policy blog in the state, "The MC," at www.mackinac.org. Reporters and residents pull charts, facts and figures …

How to Hold Elected Officials Accountable

… feel the heat when we expose government mischief and wrongdoing: A legislative staffer resigned in the fallout from our investigation into a state film subsidy deal. His former boss then lost his primary election bid this year. The governor feels the heat when we unearth video of her boasting about …

Free-Market Library

… "Capitalism: A Love Story," is put on the spot after it is discovered that his production company applied — and was approved — for subsidies under Michigan's film incentive program. Communications Specialist Kathy Hoekstra uses footage of Moore to expose the contradictions. Is The MHBCCC Defunded? This video …

Free-Market Library

… fact from fiction.   JOURNALS Michigan Capitol Confidential MCC2010-02 Key stories: Public employee pay, stimulus spending, wind energy, Michigan film subsidies.   STUDIES Environmental Regulation in Michigan: A Blueprint for Reform S2010-04 Russ Harding, senior environmental analyst and director …

Five Years Later... We Are Not 'Blown Away'

… state. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's legacy is one of failed development policies bookended between a "Cool Cities" initiative and an expensive and failed film subsidy program. I can only hope the new administration will cast a wary eye on such programs. Her favorite tool - the 15-year old Michigan Economic …

The FCC’s 2010 Hollywood Blockbuster Extravaganza

… genres and includes equal parts spaghetti Western, horror, science fiction, political intrigue, courtroom drama, and pugilism—this hodgepodge of a film inevitably will make no one happy and possesses minimal entertainment value. In Act One, our intrepid hero—let’s call him Julius Genachowski, former …

Bad News About State Jobs Program "Not Heard" by Granholm

… Job Creation "...Funny Numbers They Pull Out of Their Backside" Does Michigan Adding Jobs in July Redeem the Granholm Record? Governor Describes Film Subsidies as Jobs Program, so "Why Not Give Them Spoons?" NOT Blown Away

Community College Never Heard From Erstwhile 'Partner' in Forced Unionization Scheme

… many day care provides subject to this process, “It’s a Casablanca moment,” Wright said, paraphrasing a famous facetious quip from the 1942 classic film. “I’m shocked — shocked! — to find out that this was just a waste of time done to enrich unions!” MHBCCC representatives haven’t returned e-mails …

MichiganVotes.org April 22 Weekly Roll Call Report

… million amount Gov. Snyder requested for “economic development” tax breaks and subsidies to corporations, and cut the amount he wants to set aside for film subsidies from $25 million to $10 million. Recently Introduced Bills of Interest Senate Bill 270 (Authorize school recreation millages) Introduced …

The Laboratory Library: Book Review

The Deep Black Pond (2010) by Morgan Kostival

… also stands out. Finally, Kostival’s illustrations should be noted as inspired by the stop-action motion picture techniques of old Ray Harryhausen films as well as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “The Corpse Bride.” In this, Kostival exhibits his degree in video production. As reproduced on the …

Speaking Up

… recommended by the Center: Reduced and simplified business taxes to spur job creation Eliminated tax breaks for favored industries Significantly reduced film industry subsidies Allowed municipal or school district union contracts to be set aside to prevent insolvency Encouraged schools and municipalities …

A Good Start, Policymakers. Now Time for the Heavy Lifting

… their way into law this year. Here are some of them: Reduce business taxes to spur job creation. Eliminate corporate welfare-like tax gimmicks such as film industry subsidies. Ask public school teachers to pay part of their health insurance premiums. Set aside certain public-sector union contracts to prevent …