Results 1 to 100 of 3479

Naked favoritism is becoming Michigan’s economic strategy

A highway’s history of the state economy

… positioned itself to be in the right place at the right time. During World War I, the … say there isn’t a lot of hard work, entrepreneurship, business … controlling who is legally allowed to work in certain industries. Further down US-10, right next to Fabiano Brothers, is …

Dearborn school contract appears to ignore Supreme Court ruling

Contract implies teachers must pay union dues or fees

… control, revoked Michigan’s right-to-work law in 2023, with the changes taking effect Feb. 13, 2024. Right-to-work’s repeal does not affect government … they have a First Amendment right not to join a union. But private …

Six charts to change your mind about Michigan

Our state’s competitiveness ranges from poor to middling

… lagging behind that of the typical state right now, but our challenges go back many … began. Each state is a dot. The further right a state is on the chart, the higher … around a line that goes up and to the right, meaning that the more economic freedom … are down. Corporate welfare doesn’t work and economic freedom does. All in six …

‘Basically it was a free market wish list’

Kendall Cotton on major policy wins in Montana

… You can be working at your office job, get off work at five, and then 20 minutes later, be on the mountain … frustrated with politics at the national level right now and they feel like it’s hopeless. But there’s so much opportunity to do good work here at the local and state levels,” Cotton says. …

Free community college will cost taxpayers — and hurt students

State has already spent half a billion without knowing whether the program works

… push more students into a taxpayer-subsidized college program that hasn’t worked so far? The governor herself acknowledges that “there’s no correct path” … students deserve effective pathways to success. Community college may be right for some high school graduates, but free community college for all is unjustified …

Payroll deduction of union dues

… government workers had the right to opt out of paying the portion … even negotiating over wages or work hours is political in nature … activity. This essentially brought right-to-work protections to all government … after the repeal of Michigan’s right-to-work law.[*] The 2023 changes …

West Michigan security guards push back against forced union dues

Workers pursue deauthorization vote

… the effort by the National Right to Work Foundation.  As the foundation … majority of employees in a work unit can cast ballots to nullify … vote. The security guards work for a company called Triple … Since Michigan’s repeal of right-to-work took effect last month, …

Michigan must untether itself from UAW

The state is hand-in-glove with a union that has a wandering eye

… Michigan to the UAW by repealing right-to-work protections for the private … wandering eyes. No sooner than right-to-work repeal took effect did the … members. Michigan’s repeal of right-to-work places workers in the …

Right-to-work no longer rules in private sector

Agency fees still apply; public sector workers still have right-to-work

Right-to-work protections no longer apply to people who work in the private sector, meaning … Legislature repealed Michigan’s right-to-work law last fall, and the repeal …

The Mackinac Center Knows What Drives Population Growth

… took effect in 2023. Scholars have done a lot of work to find out what drives population trends. Economist … wise to read the Mackinac Center’s latest study. Right now, they are chasing ideas with little or no evidence that those ideas will work.

Big Labor’s death knell in Michigan

As right-to-work is repealed, unions have rarely been weaker

… first state in decades to repeal its right-to-work law by legislative action, which took … AFSCME. The repeal of Michigan’s right-to-work law came after a concerted effort – …

Michigan job, population numbers fall behind national trends

Recovery from pandemic has also lagged the national average

… Center released a study in 2023 on how to grow Michigan. Lower taxes and right-to-work have been successful tools other states used to grow population and jobs. …

Despite Right-to-Work Repeal in Michigan, Union Workers Still Have Rights

Repeal takes effect today

… in Michigan still have the right to opt out of union membership, … the repeal of the state’s right-to-work law takes effect today. The … originally impacted by the state’s right-to-work law when it took effect in …

FOIA Reforms A Good Start, But Can Go Further

Senate Oversight Committee

… records. As I mentioned earlier, these bills are a positive step in the right direction, and I fully support them. But I believe most of the new exemptions … descriptions of why each change is needed. I would welcome the opportunity to work with any member of this committee interested in implementing additional …

Michigan needs statewide zoning reform to bring down housing costs

Governor’s plan to spend more than a billion dollars, $140,000 per unit, won’t solve the problem

… baby, build!” The governor has the right idea but not the right plan. There is a lot the state can … specific types of builds have not worked. Corporate welfare simply cannot create … housing providers. These solutions work. Rent and home prices have begun to …

‘The dealers are protecting themselves, not protecting consumers’

Dan Crane on the fight for direct sales of vehicles

… traditional dealer model and said that there was no way that it was going to work,” Crane says. It would cost Tesla a lot to build up dealer networks. And … difficulties of a political fight even when you have this coalition from left to right, from consumer groups to environmental groups to free-market groups that …

Union membership reaches a 40-year low

The last 15 years have seen the number of government union members drop by 900,000

… series of states began passing right-to-work laws, giving workers the right to opt out of union membership … sector workers nationwide had right-to-work status. Since 2011 the share …

Hawaii offers a case study on the inadequacies of wind and solar

Rolling blackouts could prove deadly in Michigan winters

… reasonable to expect that utilities can complete systemwide upgrades as they also work toward 100% renewable energy goals? Hawaii offers a case study on the feasibility … can stand on their own, or if they're just grid parasites with good PR. Right now, some states on the mainland can ditch fossil fuels because they’re …

‘There’s no good outcome here’

Brian Riedl on what it will take to avoid catastrophic federal debt

… speak with Reidl about his work on budget issues as a senior … much money,” Riedl says. “Right now, the entire public debt … whole are the richest people right now.” So, we’re bankrupting … Congress and the president to work together.” What would that … “If you want a commission to work, you actually have to have …

Public Service Commission ruling on the Line 5 Tunnel is a small pre-holiday win for Michiganders

One bit of good news to balance the glut of Grinch-like energy news coming out of Lansing

… Corridor Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before it can start work on the tunnel, which will improve the safety of a valuable pipeline. “The … warm our homes. A backup generator under the Christmas tree would be the right gift for Michigan families as the governor’s homespun version of the Green …

Dear population council: There’s a labor elephant in the room

Growing Michigan Together report avoids talking about Whitmer’s biggest accomplishment of 2023

… of Michigan’s 10-year-old right-to-work law. A right-to-work state does not compel workers … moved from states without right-to-work protections to right-to-work …

Special privileges provided officers during disciplinary investigations

… questioning. In these jurisdictions, officers facing potential discipline can work with a lawyer or their union representative to develop a version of events … avoid the consequences of their actions. While everyone should have the right to counsel when facing criminal charges, such accommodations are neither …

‘I just think that’s a success, right?’

Sarah Curry on letting voters know what debts they’re being asked to approve

… much higher,” she says. She’d prefer it if the state government did this work instead of her. Iowa’s Secretary of State can collect bond questions and … to go up, they should know about it and have a say,” she says. There is work for local voters to do in advocating for or against the proposals. Curry …

Mackinac Center Asks Supreme Court to Clarify Janus Decision

… Court to uphold its 2018 ruling that extended right-to-work and other protections to public employees. The … considered to have waived their First Amendment right not to join a union if they do so with knowing, …

Workers for Opportunity Hosts Educational Labor Summit for Lawmakers

… labor reform. Last year, Tennessee became the latest state to enshrine right-to-work in its constitution, an effort advanced by Speaker Sexton and applauded …

Public Service Commission ruling on the Line 5 Tunnel is a small pre-holiday win for Michiganders

One bit of good news to balance the glut of Grinch-like energy news coming out of Lansing

… Corridor Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before it can start work on the tunnel, which will improve the safety of a valuable pipeline. “The … warm our homes. A backup generator under the Christmas tree would be the right gift to protect Michigan families as the governor’s homespun version of …

Endnotes

… child care services, and the work fertility trade-off in the … “Does Fertility Respond to Work and Family-life Reconciliation … state in decades to repeal ‘right-to-work’ law” (Associated Press, March … evidence on the effect of right-to-work laws on productivity …

Wages and employment

… morale, time off and flexible work schedules. In terms of pay, … unemployed or not looking for work. “Pro-employment policies, … example, a 2016 paper finds that right-to-work states have more productive … population growth than non-right-to-work states.[66] Researchers …

Economic growth

… ranking was 40th of the states in 2022, prior to the repeal of its decade-old right-to-work law in 2023.[54] Economists have looked at sources of differential economic …

Introduction

… words, an area with healthy population growth is likely doing something right, or at least not doing enough wrong to discourage people from wanting to … highly ranked journals. Given the nature of research to build on previous work, more recent papers were prioritized to provide the most accurate picture …

Selective subsidies are a losing strategy for Michigan

Corporate welfare does not fuel high-growth states and is not the answer for Michigan

… billions on selective business subsidies. It won’t work. The states that have been growing the most are … move, and we have an extraordinary opportunity right now to create thousands of good-paying manufacturing … move” because Whitmer hands out subsidies to the right companies. Businesses only ask for favors when …

Ford pares back Marshall plant, and state incentives will follow

Automaker will hire 800 fewer people than planned; investment will shrink by $1.3 billion

… Alliance, and $120 million for other site prep work. The CIP grant, Renaissance Zone exemption and … two weeks after the UAW strike began, Ford paused work at the site. The very next day, however, the Michigan … Dearborn automaker announced. “However, we are right-sizing as we balance investment, growth, and profitability. …

Janus had a large impact on union membership, five years later

Labor attorney’s analysis has flaws, ignores the best evidence

… location in the U.S., have right-to-work protections. As a result, these … to inform workers of their right to leave a union — “drop campaigns” … around 1 million people who work under collective bargaining … exercised their First Amendment right to decline union membership. …

Michigan growth officer wrong on taxes and growth

Data claims ring hollow when you look at the numbers

… taxes score high on the index and appear on the right side of the chart. States with high population … clustered around a trend that goes up and to the right, meaning that states with lower taxes tend to grow … council are taking a data-driven approach to their work.

Detroit charter network up for $1 million award

Charter schools overcame resistance from Detroit’s school district

… education that is driven by leaders who “execute on what they know to be right, rather than waiting for a green light from a person or entity that has … mastery of knowledge and skills, character development, and high-quality work.” Detroit Achievement Academy serves K-8 students and was founded by Kyle …

Michigan politicians submit more bills hamstringing property owners

‘My background is partially in extremism’ key sponsor says

… 5240 – Requires property owners to afford the right of first refusal to their tenants or a tenants … has been pushing and supporting. She defended her work: “As I’m working on housing legislation,” she … people knew what the state of the housing crisis is right now, what the best practices and proposed solutions …

‘That is what makes health care so different from every other sector of the economy’

Brian Blase on putting the customer back in the health care system

… yourself against financial ruin, right? It’s a very low-probability … processes that make markets work. Providers should earn profits … make the decisions that best work for them.” Blase would also … in Medicare Advantage plans right now,” Blase says. He notes … significantly.” Part of his work is to document the different …

Right-to-work was key to pandemic recovery

Post-shutdown difference is stark: States that make it easier on job creators end up creating more jobs

… closely tied to whether it has a right-to-work law. Workers have the freedom … states, which protect the “right to work,” bounced back from the pandemic … created the most jobs have right-to-work laws. They’ve more …

Note to Michigan’s population council: Research favors freedom

Ranking of states shows we need to change direction

… legislative majorities take effect. The state has already repealed its right-to-work law and reinstituted its expensive prevailing wage law. Both of these restrict …

Mackinac Center Experts Offer Insights into Key Issues Facing Michigan Residents

… policy event focused on the implications of repealing Michigan’s decade-old right-to-work law. Mackinac Center Director of Labor Policy Steve Delie and Shane Hernandez, …

Lockwood Named New Chairman of Mackinac Center Board of Directors

Board also welcomes new director Jennifer Panning

… chamber’s support of Michigan’s right-to-work law. He is the author of “Belle … speaks clearly on where to work, where to live and where to … she started the business and worked from day 1, Jennifer is employee … reputation for its award-winning work, specializing in tile and terrazzo …

State Policy Network Honors Mackinac Center Legal Foundation

… Mackinac Center has been proud to work through the courts to stand up for what’s right. This has meant establishing teachers’ right to resign from their union at any … privilege to be recognized for our legal work alongside two other nominees with remarkable …

Mackinac Center Research Joins JSTOR

… if it could add some of our work to its collection. Mackinac … drew JSTOR’s attention to our work. Only a handful of other free-market … business subsidy programs, right-to-work laws or occupational licensing, … this link to check out our work on JStor.

A Jarrett of All Trades

Meet Jarrett Skorup, Vice President for Marketing and Communications

… something in the states, so he applied to work at the Mackinac Center. Fourteen years … messages into more people’s heads.” His work on the 2012 ballot proposals fueled … Braun, made sure I was getting my core work done, but he also encouraged me to … help union members understand their right to opt out of unions. “I’m lucky …

How Will We Turn Michigan Around?

And Why Michigan Matters

… II. Even our failures (Detroit bankruptcy, Flint water crisis, repealing right-to-work) produce international headlines! Michigan has disproportionate political …

Section 13: MCL § 15.243 – Exemptions from disclosure, etc.

… law enforcement proceedings investigation. (ii) Deprive a person of the right to a fair trial or impartial administrative adjudication. (iii) Constitute … redactions without having to resort to litigation. As a bonus, the additional work required by this amendment helps to disincentivize excessive redactions. …

Whitmer gets it right on auto insurance

Senate-approved legislation would harm low-income individuals and families

… that disproportionately affects low-income individuals and families. Fox notes in her letter that the cost-cutting reforms instituted in 2019 have worked to increase insurance coverage in Michigan. More than 200,000 people who previously had no insurance now have some. Some coverage is better than none, …

Ford halts work at Marshall site, but state keeps spending

No pause in Michigan Strategic Fund’s $65M giveaway to embattled BlueOval Battery Park

… the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance for infrastructure improvements at the site. While the Ford project is called BlueOval Battery Park, right now it’s known as the “MAJOR” campus: Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunities and Recreation. Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall alliance, told Michigan Capitol …

Whitmer might sign fewer laws with Democratic majority

With a Republican legislature, Whitmer signed 278 laws last year. She’s below 200 in 2023.

… with it, after an initial checklist that included right-to-work repeal. There were too many mouths to be fed. Too … 56-vote threshold needed to pass a House bill. Right now Democrats control the House 56-54. An outright …

State representative on energy committee owns solar company

Michigan Rep. Joey Andrews claims company is dormant, but records show it was never dissolved

… voted for bills that would give the Michigan Public Service Commission the right to permit solar and windmill projects statewide. This would remove local … recent annual statement is for 2021. Andrews, a first-term lawmaker, started work in January. Public records do not show that a certificate of dissolution …

‘The moral argument is what wins’

Jimmy Walker on raising funds by making a better case for free-market ideas

… by telling their friends about our work. Donors expect results from their … Some donors are happy to follow the work that we do and ensure that it’s voicing … that is outside of the Overton Window right now. Walker works to make a strong … interested in ideas. He cites our work on school choice, where we argue that …

Nearly 1 million Michiganders are subject to occupational licensing laws

Mackinac Center forum considers occupational licensing and its discontents

… excluded from their chosen line of work. “When education requirements … Regulatory and legal barriers to work cost America two million jobs … new workers into a field of work, increasing costs to the consumer. … Constitution, people have the right “to pursue a lawful occupation … interference.” Michiganders seeking to work in more than 180 occupations …

Mackinac Center in the news: Auto workers on strike

Big 3 make big profits, UAW wants a better deal, but the good times may be coming to an end

… competitors and Tesla. The UAW is seeking a four-day work week, a 46% wage increase and a share of company … they can’t afford, while paying workers more to work less, mostly on the taxpayer’s dime? If so, it’s … million EVs on the road by 2030,” Dickson said. “Right now, there are 37,000. The only path there is with …

Note to Michigan’s population council: Research favors freedom

Ranking of states shows we need to change direction

… legislative majorities take effect. The state has already repealed its right-to-work law and reinstituted its expensive prevailing wage law. Both of these restrict …

Why Michigan loses people to other states

Policies that attract populations to other states are opposed by Whitmer and unmentioned by growth council

… lawmakers have joined the suit. Right-to-work is also a factor that drives … signed a repeal of the 2012 right-to-work law earlier this year. “The … moved from states without right-to-work laws to states with …

‘We have to protect the parents who trust their kids with some independence’

Lenore Skenazy on the Let Grow Project

… kids. She’s also worried about single mothers who work hard and can trust their kids to take care of themselves … concept,” Skenazy says. “It’s almost Halloween right now. There will be thousands of articles telling … a stranger’s candy? It’s zero.” She cites the work of sociologist Joel Best who had been tracking …

There are now 25,000 UAW members on strike

UAW President Shawn Fain expanded the strike by 7,000 workers Friday

… and GM’s Delta Township Assembly in the Lansing area. About 7,000 people work at the two facilities, bringing the total number of strikers to 25,000, … war isn’t against some foreign country,” Fain said. “The front lines are right here at home.” Early in the livestream, Fain referenced President Joe Biden’s …

Michigan loses in UAW strike

Rising costs, declining productivity, labor conflict make region less competitive

… pensions and other retiree benefits, automatic wage increases, a 32-hour work week, and payments for (former) workers at closed plants. Union demands … easily be passed on to consumers. U.S. companies enjoy a tariff advantage right now, especially for trucks, but much less so for electric vehicles. This …

Michigan loses in UAW strike

Rising costs, declining productivity, labor conflict make region less competitive

… pensions and other retiree benefits, automatic wage increases, a 32-hour work week, and payments for (former) workers at closed plants. Union demands … easily be passed on to consumers. U.S. companies enjoy a tariff advantage right now, especially for trucks, but much less so for electric vehicles. This …

How popular are unions?

Americans support organized labor in theory, but not so much in practice

… which gave all public sector workers right-to-work protections, more than one-fifth of … on policy issues. Especially over right-to-work laws, which allow workers to choose …

Michigan Education Association is down 37,000 members in a decade

Teachers union has dropped to under 80,000 members

… a decade ago, the state’s right-to-work law, which was enacted in 2012, … voted to repeal the state’s right-to-work law. But due to the U.S. Supreme … employees — still operate in a right-to-work environment. The U.S. …

‘Thirty to forty years ago, this was actually a debatable question. Now that we have the data in hand it’s much less debatable’

Robert Lawson on the Economic Freedom of the World Index and improvements in economic liberty

… of challenges with empirical work. But I’m an academic and I … debate, we won the debate.” His work also shows that the world has … car is either not going to work at all or it’s going to be … get most of these policies right do really well. The key is to get most of the policies right.” Lawson is pleased by the …

Teachers union president: Focus on politics, not on bargaining, wages, education

AFT head David Hecker urges ‘fundamental progressive change’

… in fact, union membership is at a historic low. Since Michigan passed a right-to-work law in 2012, allowing union members to withdraw their support, AFT-Michigan …

Auto workers can still resign from UAW and work during strike

Michigan’s right-to-work law, slated for repeal, is still in effect

… organization that supports right-to-work laws. Union members who report to work during a strike are subject … union fines, the National Right to Work Legal Foundation announced …

Recommended policy reforms

… should properly balance the tradeoffs involved with restricting who can work legally in an effort to reduce the risks of harm faced by the public. The … four key reforms that would balance protections for the public and the right to legal employment. Michigan has already accomplished one of those four …

32-hour work week would be the end of Detroit

If Detroit becomes a part-time town, it will stop being Detroit.

… UAW members is the 32-hour work week, with no reduction in … Michigan. Fain sees the 32-hour work week as an updated model of … can imagine that the 32-hour work week will be one of the first … for higher pay when you do work makes sense. Telling the company … representation. So the UAW is right to worry about a transition …

‘If that sounds outrageous and corrupt, it’s because it is’

Pat Garofalo works to prevent lawmakers from signing nondisclosure agreements about business subsidy negotiations

… the most common reaction is shock that it’s even legal.” The deals rarely work out as promoted, however. Politicians put out press releases, go to ribbon-cutting … calculus that lawmakers perform to decide which way to vote on an issue. “Right now, the calculus is that it’s better to do the dealmaking and deal with …

Mackinac Fights for the Little Guy

… she could have on the entire school district by educating the educators. Right-to-work has been a key issue for the Mackinac Center from its inception, and Mary Jeanne …

Michigan Open Records Law Needs to Be Rewritten

Michigan government offices should work for the people, not for themselves. … to make Michigan’s open records law work for citizens don’t help much. Requestors … holds the records to review its own work. The second option is usually too expensive … changes have moved the state in the right direction. None, however, go far enough …

The Mackinac Center Welcomes the Intern Class of 2023

With 19 interns, this is our largest class to date

Left to Right: Valerie Check, Sarah Rakoczy, Alyssa Patterson, … attend law school and then work in environmental policy. She … movement. She has already worked in the United States Congress … Foundation intern and previously worked as a communications intern. … sophomore, plans to pursue work in a Catholic diocese as a …

Reform-minded Public Officials Join Workers for Opportunity Advisory Board

… years, an indispensable resource for righting the balance of power between people … most successful one to date for our work. We consulted with Florida Gov. Ron … employees, each year, that they have a right to refrain from union membership. … taxpayer dollars protect their employees’ right to vote by private ballot if union …

This Journalist Keeps it Real

Meet Dave Bondy, the Mackinac Center’s digital and video content manager

… hurricanes,” he says of his time there. Dave worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a … crazy to go get a college degree to work a job that paid less than what they … The early months of 2023 were the right time for him to change jobs. The Mackinac … two young kids and didn’t want to work the 2 p.m.-to-midnight shift anymore. …

The Janus Legacy

… Messenger of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and … states that do not have a right-to-work law — states like California, … was important. We passed a right-to-work law in 2012, but when …

Whitmer hypes biz subsidies as state economy stagnates

People get job announcements instead of actual jobs

… helped the state do better than it would have done without that spending, right? Wrong. Selective subsidies are an ineffective way to create jobs. Economists … huge deals that cover nearly all of their jobs in the state, few people work in factories or offices that get state subsidies. Few people have an elected …

Dude, where’s your car?

Politicians have it backward: Customer preference, not political calculations, should drive business decisions

… EV and battery manufacturing, but finding that “the demand isn’t there right now.” These headlines are causing some head-scratching for many readers. … dollars enticing otherwise uninterested customers to buy them. It doesn’t work that way. Customer demand is supposed to drive business action. Politicians …

Freeway floods, power outages show Michigan failing at what matters

Pride precedes fall as weather event shuts down boastful state

“We’re a state that’s on the right side of history,” read pro-Michigan billboards … states. Maybe Michigan is on the right side of history — that’s an arguable … unexpectedly, causing parents to call out of work with little notice. It’s true that … bad, and people are moving out. “The right side of history and the wrong side …

‘Now it’s simply referred to as the Overton Window, as if everyone knows what it is’

Larry Reed and Joe Lehman on the Overton Window and Joe Overton

… Mackinac Center. Joe Overton’s work still influences Mackinac Center … Mackinac Center, Joe Overton’s work, and his insight about windows … changes in Michigan we have to work on labor issues, since this … elected officials can do the right thing.” Overton came up with … all places, would become a right-to-work state. Only a think …

Gotion is ‘wholly owned’ by a Chinese company, and 2 other takeaways from its foreign-agent filing

Gotion’s FARA declaration contradicts its articles of association

… CPC Central Committee and the State Council as well as relevant important work arrangements of the Party organization at the higher level... The question … environmental impact say they have received no answers. Gotion and The Right Place, the economic development firm that lured it to West Michigan, are …

The Union Takeover of Michigan?

Mackinac Center Policy Forum - Traverse City

… The repeal of Michigan’s decade-old right-to-work law grabbed international attention, … Michigan (ABC). Shane previously worked both in private business and public … Lawrence Technological University and worked for SyDesign Architects for 12 years. …

Michigan senator says Democrats copied and pasted his veterans legislation

​​​Four versions of the same bill sit in committee

… the last three years, I have worked closely with Michigan veteran … Treasury, hosting numerous work group meetings to get this legislation right,” Bumstead said in a July statement. … email to CapCon that he has worked with veterans groups on the … “I am ready and willing to work with Sen. Hertel and Sen. Singh …

Whitmer hypes biz subsidies as state economy stagnates

People get job announcements instead of actual jobs

… helped the state do better than it would have done without that spending, right? Wrong. Selective subsidies are an ineffective way to create jobs. Economists … huge deals that cover nearly all of their jobs in the state, few people work in factories or offices that get state subsidies. Few people have an elected …

Send Michigan your licensed masses

Lawmakers are looking at skilled job growth the wrong way

… state health care professionals to work in the state during the pandemic. … the job is much more important to work quality than the hurdles to obtain … license. We should let experienced people work. And if a person has a bad record in … are tight everywhere in the country right now, with employers complaining about …

In southeast Michigan, a little rain, then 180,000 power outages

It took just 1.13 inches of rain to knock out power in the DTE imprint

… restore power. When that DTE white work truck rolls down your street, the linemen … automation technology, noting that it worked well in Chicago. Say a tree hits … to most customers — the status quo right now, as seen in this DTE tweet from … infrastructure, as built, does not work. All it takes is a little rain. So …

‘This is my home and I’m going to fight for this thing’

Matt Paprocki on making a difference in Illinois policy

… out whether they’re moving the needle with their work, they poll regularly to see what people in Illinois … “Teachers union favorable went from +17 to +2. And right now in the city of Chicago, the teachers union … helped every public employee in the country get the right to opt out of paying unions as a condition of employment. …

Even the rich aren’t rich enough to save us

Solving social problems requires more than confiscating wealth from billionaires

… society, and more is being made right now too. Philanthropists, civil … can improve matters, but the work is slow and requires persistent … even when the math doesn’t work out, because they’re too dug … care about these issues and work hard to make things better. … societal coalitions and hard work. It’s not just spending more …

Dude, where’s your car?

Politicians have it backward: Customer preference, not political calculations, should drive business decisions

… EV and battery manufacturing, but finding that “the demand isn’t there right now.” These headlines are causing some head-scratching for many readers. … dollars enticing otherwise uninterested customers to buy them. It doesn’t work that way. Customer demand is supposed to drive business action. Politicians …

‘Diatribe’ has no complaints with big government check

Lansing awards $3.5 million to art organization disrupting ‘historical system of oppression’

… Empowered,” “Deluxe Assemblies” (stage presentations), and “Writing to Right Wrongs.” , “Designed to give students a safe space to speak about issues that impact their lives, the content is unique and inspiring and features work by Black, Brown, and LGBTQ artists,” according to the ‘Our Identities’ content …

Employees' First Amendment Rights Deserve Protection

Amicus brief argues Indiana can inform employees of their constitutional rights

… AFSCME case, which established right-to-work protections for public sector … employees that they have the right to choose whether or not to … employees have a constitutional right not to pay a union,” said Jeffery … employees from waiving that right without even knowing about …

Michigan’s top-10 hit

Democrats praise business rankings as they put in place anti-business policies

… Eight out of 10 of them are right-to-work states. Low taxes and being a right-to-work state factor into these rankings; … Michigan has repealed its right-to-work law, a change that …

Once again, it's not the climate, it's the fuel

More foresters step forward to correct the record on wildfires

… at the University of Guelph, Ontario, gets it right when he describes how the number of wildfires and … Tweet. "As someone who works in forestry and has worked fires, and been evacuated due to fire, I have … foresters who say they agree with our forestry work. Refusing to allow active management and failing …

Even the rich aren’t rich enough to save us

Solving social problems requires more than confiscating wealth from billionaires

… society, and more is being made right now too. Philanthropists, civil … can improve matters, but the work is slow and requires persistent … even when the math doesn’t work out, because they’re too dug … care about these issues and work hard to make things better. … societal coalitions and hard work. It’s not just spending more …

When public laws are private policy

What happens when pols and interest groups make law in smoke-filled rooms? The voters should care.

… at large still supports them. The work required to enact particular, obscure … different from how thing are supposed to work in America, where entrepreneurs earn … mutually beneficial trade and instead work to win at the public’s loss. Captured … It’s a free country: People have a right to engage with lawmakers about the …

Welcome to the Team

Meet the Mackinac Center’s newest staff members

From left to right: Joshua Antonini, Joseph Rupert, Mick McArt, Lindsey Severson, … job is meeting ambitious people who work hard for the cause of liberty. “Mackinac … visually inspiring way. Outside of work, Mick is the author of “Tales of Wordishure,” … traveling all over the state promoting his work and meeting thousands of wonderful …

Has the Overton Window Shifted on Right-to-Work?

… lawmakers passed the state’s right-to-work law, which kept workers from … possible completely invert? Right-to-work was clearly outside the Overton … legislative committee that right-to-work was a good policy. …

From the Yellow Pages to One of Michigan’s ‘Coolest Places to Work

… values,” says John. His father worked his entire career at AT&T and his mother worked as a homemaker and office … father’s footsteps at AT&T. He worked as a Yellow Pages account … Michigan’s “coolest places to work” by Crain’s Detroit Business. … through advancing and promoting right-to-work. Finally, the Center …

Mackinac Center’s Workers for Opportunity Wins Important National Victories

… Teachers Bill of Rights proposal. But the work on these reforms began in 2019, when … threatening to undo years of hard work. Gov. DeSantis’ administration was … The law secures Tennessee workers’ right to decide union representation in … The Workers for Opportunity team worked tirelessly through a weekend to pass …

Welcoming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to the Mackinac Center

… emergency management during COVID. We work with lawmakers and learn from good … decisions. While Michigan repealed its right-to-work law, Florida strengthened its own law, reaffirming workers’ right to join or not to join a labor union. …

What Does the Repeal of Right-to-Work Mean?

… Legislature repealed Michigan’s right-to-work law in March. It’s a big setback. … four points to note about right-to-work repeal: It is one step back … state. And we must reinstate right-to-work as soon as possible. …

DTE head: ‘Sometimes you can’t count on’ wind and solar

As energy giant moves away from coal, CEO emphasizes need for reliable nuclear and natural gas

… lawmakers. “We don't want to destabilize the grid, right? We’ve seen it happen in other jurisdictions, you … Helena Scott, D-Detroit, vowed to create an energy work group. That has not happened. DTE President Trevor … Norcia visited the House committee Wednesday. But no work group has been formed, and no current legislation …

Michigan bill would conceal union political contributions

Under House Bill 4234, a union could double or triple its giving to preferred candidates

Following the recent repeal of right-to-work, the Michigan Legislature is reviewing a package of bills that grant unions robust political privileges. …