Authors

Photo of Harry C. Veryser Jr.

Harry C. Veryser Jr.

University of Detroit-Mercy

… economics at the University of Detroit-Mercy and was previously the … Studies from the University of Detroit.  Veryser has served as Chairman … articles have appeared in The Detroit News and The Intercollegiate …

Results 1 to 10 of 6727

Michigan taxpayers give $200,000 for NASCAR-owned race track

Racing business has $425M in corporate sponsorships

… also paid for traffic control in 2007. When Detroit hosted the NFL draft in 2024, roughly 775,00 people … Roach, the director of media relations for the Detroit mayor’s office told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email. “Detroit's commitment to provide security was a central …

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: How To Use Data to Inform Good Public Policy

… been published in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Hill, The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and elsewhere. Van Beek obtained his graduate degree in history …

Minority-owned businesses get $10 million in 2025 budget

Earmarks part of $1B of unvetted spending

… business’ located in Lansing and Detroit will be offered ‘minority-owned business … business will go to Dunamis Charge in Detroit, an electric vehicle charger company. … MI Minority Supplier Developer in Detroit $2 million to a LatinX Technology … Flint $1 million to Chinatown in Detroit $750,000 to a Hispanic community …

Public sector unions should only speak for their members

Union’s right to ‘exclusive representation’ is a constitutional problem

… representation for public sector unions can survive strict scrutiny. The last time it directly reviewed this question came in the 1977 case Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. But in Janus, the court overturned Abood, calling it “poorly reasoned.” In Abood, the court adopted the logic it had previously …

Labor Day is a good time for Michiganders to remember their labor rights

CapCon gives brief history of labor law

… charge those costs to members, not fee-payers. Public sector employees gained the right to be fee-payers by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, delivered May 23, 1977. Requiring a worker covered by a union contract to also pay the union for its political activity violates …

Michigan Taxpayers Lose Permanent Tax Cut

State Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit

… Legislature.” Former Gov. Rick Snyder, who signed the law in 2015, made it clear that the tax cut was meant to be permanent. In an April 2024 op-ed in The Detroit News, Gov. Snyder called the trigger a “guarantee of fiscal responsibility” and “a win for everyone who calls Michigan home.” The House Fiscal Agency’s …

Funding up, academic performance down in Michigan schools

Only 5% of Detroit 8th graders proficient in math

… ranks 36th in math. The results are similar for reading. Michigan’s average of 212 trails the national average of 216. Now the state ranks 41st. In Detroit, 90% of students in public elementary and middle school are either not proficient or only partially proficient in English, according to Molly Macek, …

Puppet Master, Dungeon Master, Design Master

Mick McArt brings magic to the Mackinac Center’s graphic design department

… puppets blowing up.” They briefly entered negotiations to sell the show to MTV. Mick grew up in Tawas, Michigan, the son of parents who moved from Detroit. While he assembled pneumatic parts for cars after high  school, Mick was inspired by colleagues to go to college. He went to Central Michigan University …

Mackinac Center Explores Alternative Education Models in Michigan

… integrates the core subjects of science, math, economics and English. In Detroit, homeschooling parents can receive free coaching and access to community resources by joining Engaged Detroit, a co-op foundedby Bernita Bradley. They can also enroll their young children …

Mackinac in the Media

… prescription." Naomi Lopez, Adjunct Scholar James Hohman on WILX 10 The Detroit News Leadership is more than just being in charge “Whitmer’s lockdowns … Workers for Opportunity and Steve Delie, Director of Labor Policy The Detroit News Minimum wage mandates are bad for the economy “There is so much …