Search in publication Michigan Capitol Confidential

Detroit Schools Spent $250K Sending Students, Staff To Italy

State’s largest district spent $961,534 on out-of-state travel; second-largest district spent just $18,397

Tom Gantert | January 27, 2020

No Debt, No Tax Hike: Michigan Can Add $897 Million To Road Budget Right Now

Legislators and governor just have to say ‘yes’

Madeline Peltzer | January 25, 2020

Michigan College’s $98k Equity And Inclusion Officer To Political Opponents: ‘F**k Trump’

Diversity has its limits at Kellogg Community College

Dawson Bell | January 24, 2020

Bans And Bad Feelings After ‘Stealth’ Odd-Year, August School Tax Hike Election

Superintendent bans two residents from U.P. school property without prior notice

Sandy Malone | January 23, 2020

Bill To Increase State Transparency Could Reduce It

Wouldn’t be first time the legislative process worked against open government

Holly Matkin | January 22, 2020

No Need to Fear ‘Uncertified’ Teachers in Michigan – There Are Thousands of Them

There’s little evidence students are worse off

Jarrett Skorup | January 21, 2020

There’s little evidence students are worse off

More Attention for Interstate Compacts to Eliminate Business Subsidies

There are lessons to be learned from a recent agreement

James M. Hohman | January 21, 2020

There are lessons to be learned from a recent agreement

It’s Time to Improve the School Bond Election Process

Narrow the election dates, give voters timely and direct notices

Ben DeGrow | January 21, 2020

Narrow the election dates, give voters timely and direct notices

Open Records Law Request? See What The Lawyers Say (You Pay)

Tuscola County raises stakes for obtaining public records

Tom Gantert | January 21, 2020

State Worker Salaries Stagnate Due to Skyrocketing Cost Of Benefits

Costs $122,959 to employ a state worker; $54,845 of that is benefits

Dawson Bell | January 20, 2020

Change In Basic Water Use Law Could Hit Michigan Farms

Bill aims at particular water bottler, could restrict fruit and vegetable growers

Tom Gantert | January 18, 2020

Rational Environmentalism in 2020

Find a balance between human welfare and environmental concerns

Thomas M. Doran | January 17, 2020

Find a balance between human welfare and environmental concerns

The Working Class Is Not Worse Off Today Than During the Recession

The United Way’s ALICE report misrepresents real poverty

Jarrett Skorup | January 17, 2020

The United Way’s ALICE report misrepresents real poverty

Strong Demand For Government-Owned Broadband – From Government Officials

Two more Oakland cities well-served by commercial broadband looking to enter the business

Dawson Bell | January 17, 2020

Without Context, Water Use Claims Are Misleading (Millions? Billions? Trillions?)

Water use debate often occurs in an information vacuum

Tom Gantert | January 16, 2020

Road Debt Gives Michigan Little Other Than Interest Payments

Taking on more debt isn't the answer to fund road repairs

James M. Hohman | January 16, 2020

Taking on more debt isn't the answer to fund road repairs

These Teachers Earning More Under ‘Right To Work For Less’

Their union is getting less, though

Tom Gantert | January 15, 2020

A Good Economy Means More State Revenue Without a Tax Hike

Whether this revenue will go to lawmakers’ highest priority is a different question

James M. Hohman | January 14, 2020

Whether this revenue will go to lawmakers’ highest priority is a different question

Motorists Already Doing More For Roads Without Another Tax Hike

'Nothing?' Drivers paying $298 million more gas tax + $226 million more license plate tax in 2020

Tom Gantert | January 14, 2020

Gov. Whitmer Says Michigan Carmaker Jobs Up; They’re Not

And subsidized job projections not the same as actual jobs

Madeline Peltzer | January 13, 2020

Detroit School’s Response On Costly Travel Expenses Raise More Questions

Tom Gantert | January 11, 2020

Moving Company Reports More Customers Leave Michigan Than Move Here

State will likely lose another seat in Congress after next census

Dawson Bell | January 10, 2020

Public Transit: Moving Few at a Huge Expense

More people walk to work in Michigan than use public transit

James M. Hohman | January 9, 2020

More people walk to work in Michigan than use public transit

Lawmakers Should Not Resurrect Pure Michigan Subsidy Program

Its funding should stay at zero

Michael D. LaFaive | January 9, 2020

Its funding should stay at zero

Motorists Still Paying For Engler And Granholm’s Road Debt

Payments on those bonds use transportation tax dollars that would otherwise go to fix today’s roads

Tom Gantert | January 9, 2020

Water Bottler A Drop In The Trillions Of Gallons That Fall On Michigan

State appears awash in water

Tom Gantert | January 8, 2020

‘The Nation’ Blames Michigan GOP For Cuts In School Budgets Signed By Dem Governor

Cuts came during single-state recession; funding only higher since GOP gained trifecta in 2011

Tom Gantert | January 7, 2020

Democratic Minority Voters Overwhelmingly Favor School Choice

Don’t downplay party’s racial divide on charter schools

Ben DeGrow | January 6, 2020

Don’t downplay party’s racial divide on charter schools

Michigan Lawmakers on Pace for the Smallest Increase in Business Subsidies

Legislators reduced some corporate welfare spending

James M. Hohman | January 6, 2020

Legislators reduced some corporate welfare spending

Forfeiture Cases Can Take Years, Even for the Innocent; Supreme Court May Help

Mackinac Center signs onto amicus brief in Salgado v. United States

Jarrett Skorup | January 6, 2020

Mackinac Center signs onto amicus brief in Salgado v. United States

Bill Extends Criminal Sanctions To Eavesdropping Via Siri, Alexa, Smart TVs

Law’s definitions of eavesdropping, surveillance, secret records date from 1966

Sandy Malone | January 6, 2020

More Inaccurate Media On Amount Michigan Taxpayers Pay For Schools

Reports do reveal what school establishments want public to think about how much they get

Tom Gantert | January 4, 2020

Nature Outstrips Commerce In Discharging Great Lakes Water

St. Lawrence River removes more Great Lakes water in two minutes than bottling plant does in a year

Tom Gantert | January 3, 2020

‘Trump Tax Cuts’ Have Benefited Union Workers

Almost everyone got a tax cut

Jarrett Skorup | January 2, 2020

Almost everyone got a tax cut

This Land Is Your Land - But Under These Bills Not The Water

'Public trust doctrine' and 'collective' ownership mean government permission required

Dawson Bell | January 2, 2020

CapCon’s Top 10 Stories For 2019

Road Fix That Wasn’t, Gun-Free Zones, 1,100 Windmills Won’t Replace This Coal Plant

Tom Gantert | January 1, 2020

More Michigan Internet Purchases Taxed Starting New Year’s Day

Some out-of-state sales tax collections began earlier; this new law adds another $80 million a year

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | December 31, 2019

Michigan Nurse Sues Teamsters For Taking Illegal Union Dues

Genesys Medical also on the hook for going along

Madeline Peltzer | December 30, 2019

Decade’s Top 10 Legislators For Missing Votes: 9 Represented Detroit

Site that tracks state representative and senator yeas and nays also shows not present

Tom Gantert | December 28, 2019

‘It’s Not Getting Better Here': Teacher On Life After Right-To-Work

But his pay is up $9,300 over five years

Tom Gantert | December 27, 2019

DTE’s Renewable Energy Plan Won’t Satisfy Green Groups

Another critic says the plan calls for ‘more expensive, less reliable energy’

Dawson Bell | December 26, 2019

70 Times Gunshots Fired On School Grounds In Michigan Since 1970

Michigan schools tax, borrow and spend big for security

Tom Gantert | December 24, 2019

How Did Detroit Schools Spend $286,596 On LA Conference?

Answer awaits district’s overdue response to open records law request

Tom Gantert | December 23, 2019

A Record In Snyder’s Last Budget, Transportation Budget Down in Gov. Whitmer’s First

Whitmer’s 45-cent tax proposal got no traction, and she vetoed the Republicans’ road budget fix

Tom Gantert | December 21, 2019

Three Reasons to Oppose New Corporate Incentives

The argument against Michigan’s ‘Good Jobs’ program

Jarrett Skorup | December 20, 2019

The argument against Michigan’s ‘Good Jobs’ program

Simplistic ‘Teacher Shortage’ Claims Hype, But Big Challenges In Some Areas

‘The issues arise when we have openings in the ‘specialized’ areas’

Tom Gantert | December 20, 2019

Legislative Year Finishes With High Fiscal Notes

Solid changes to public policy deserve applause

Michael D. LaFaive | December 19, 2019

Solid changes to public policy deserve applause

Study: Legislators Authorize Penalties, Unelected Bureaucrats Decide Where They Apply

Accumulated regulations ‘fiendishly complex, sometimes contradictory, or incomprehensible and unenforceable’

Dawson Bell | December 19, 2019

A Cautionary Tale About Job Promises And Corporate Subsidies

GM’s promised 6,000 Poletown jobs never appeared; Ford announces 3,000

Tom Gantert | December 18, 2019

Michigan Bureaucrats Want to Force Unions on Pot Businesses

Labor interests want to use state regulations to grow union revenue

Jarrett Skorup | December 17, 2019

Labor interests want to use state regulations to grow union revenue

For First Time Since 1949, US Exported More Oil Than It Imported

Energy production here may exceed domestic demand by 30% in 2030

Holly Matkin | December 17, 2019

Persistent Accounting Failures Risk Benton Harbor Schools’ Federal Money

‘Control activities ... inconsistent, ineffective, and in some cases, nonexistent’

Tom Gantert | December 16, 2019

Michigan’s Largest Teachers Union Got Nearly $500k From Collections Agencies

MEA has lost tens of thousands of members, is pursuing them by ‘any legal means’

Tom Gantert | December 14, 2019

Michigan’s Two Big Teachers Unions In Decline

Membership is down ever since they lost the power to compel payments as a condition of employment

Tom Gantert | December 13, 2019

State School Aid Deal Fits Decade-Long Upward Trend

Reapproved vetoed funds puts final budget above 10-year average

Ben DeGrow | December 12, 2019

Reapproved vetoed funds puts final budget above 10-year average

Why Do Complaints About Teachers’ Pay Never Say How Much They Get?

Maybe not getting rich, but it’s a long way from poverty

Tom Gantert | December 12, 2019

Politicians Get Too Much Blame — and Credit — for Economic Trends

Partisan interpretations of economic data harms policy development

James M. Hohman | December 11, 2019

Partisan interpretations of economic data harms policy development

Oakland County’s New Chief Diversity Officer To Get Up To $143k

Brooks Patterson got $201,193 a year

Dawson Bell | December 11, 2019

Dues-Paying Membership In Teachers Union Has Collapsed Since Right-To-Work

MEA's persuasion and manipulative contract extensions not enough to keep teachers paying

Tom Gantert | December 10, 2019

Bills Would Slightly Ease, Not Repeal, Anti-Competitive Hospital Rationing Law

Action comes after state Certificate of Need commission tried to limit access to cancer treatment

Sandy Malone | December 9, 2019

Teachers Union HQ Contracted Out For Janitors, Opposes Same For Schools

Half of all Michigan school districts outsource custodial services

Tom Gantert | December 7, 2019

Whitmer Ran On Road Repair Promise, But Will Spend Less To Fix Them Than Last Year

$40 million less; her one suggestion was a steep gas tax hike

Tom Gantert | December 6, 2019

Teachers’ Pay Didn’t Fall, But Great Recession Did Drive ‘Reduction In The Rate Of Increase’

East Lansing illustrates one way this happened

Tom Gantert | December 5, 2019

Dangers of the Regulatory State: Overly Precise Rules

Meticulous administrative rules can make criminals of the well-intended

Michael Van Beek | December 4, 2019

Meticulous administrative rules can make criminals of the well-intended

Teachers Who Talk Down Their Profession Often Don’t Mention The Benefits

A decent pension and good health coverage for life among them

Tom Gantert | December 4, 2019

Term Limits Blamed For Philandering Politicians, No Local Casino, More

The excuse for everything Michigan’s political class doesn’t like

Tom Gantert | December 3, 2019

Licensure Mandates Cost Michigan Jobs And Millions In State Revenue

Job restrictions also have disparate impact on youth and minorities

Sandy Malone | December 2, 2019

Latest Audit Finds Detroit Schools Budget Is Solid

District has 20% reserve, state average is 14.5%

Tom Gantert | November 30, 2019

Regulators Imagine Possible Harms, Seek Car Market Restrictions

Rule good for dealers, regulators, lawmakers; consumers not consulted

Dawson Bell | November 29, 2019

What the Mackinac Center is Thankful for in 2019

Freedom, fairness and fiscal responsibility

Jarrett Skorup | November 28, 2019

Teachers Spin Low Pay Horror Stories, But Actual Figures Are Public Records

Claims mislead public on important public policy issue

Tom Gantert | November 27, 2019

Got Lawyers? State Elections Bureau Shoots Down Union PAC Payroll Deductions

Extensive body of state law now micromanages political spending and activism

Holly Matkin | November 26, 2019

Flint School Officials Blow It Again On Budget, Heading Back Into Debt

A shadow of its former self, district enrolls just 16% the number of kids as in 2000

Tom Gantert | November 25, 2019

State Tells Landowners: Sandbags Along Great Lakes OK — For Now

Agency suspends permit mandate that usually takes up to 90 days

Dawson Bell | November 23, 2019

Warren Mayor Nixes Lifetime Health Benefits for City Council Members

‘If they want to, they can take me to court’

Tom Gantert | November 21, 2019

Four-County Bus Tax Failed in 2016; Politicians May Go For Three Counties In 2020

Bus ridership declining in region, and more people walk to work than ride

Tom Gantert | November 21, 2019

$71k Average Pay Has Ann Arbor Teachers ‘Contemplating Bankruptcy’

‘None of those examples are exaggerations,’ $65k, five-year teacher tells school board

Tom Gantert | November 20, 2019

Warren Council Votes Self Free Lifetime Health Care; $228 Million Short On Workers’ Benefits

Unfunded liability for promised retiree health care benefits is double city’s annual revenue

Tom Gantert | November 19, 2019

Schools With Many Poor Families Get More Per Kid In Michigan, Not Less

Activist calling for illegal teacher strikes still makes claim

Tom Gantert | November 18, 2019

Look For The Union Label On Legal Pot Shops?

State marijuana regulators propose unauthorized union privilege as condition of licensure

Dawson Bell | November 16, 2019

Teachers Filing Union Unfair Labor Complaint Appear To Be Doing Well

Average pay at their Macomb district $79k; $100k+ not uncommon with optional duties

Tom Gantert | November 15, 2019

Local School Union Claims Unfair Labor Practice, Cites Cuts That Weren’t

Teachers union says its members lost money, but don’t blame state taxpayers

Tom Gantert | November 14, 2019

Tlaib Against Corporate Welfare Except When She Votes For It

In Michigan House she voted ‘yes’ on giving $1.031 billion to corporations

Tom Gantert | November 13, 2019

Targeted Tax Preferences are Unfair

Entrepreneurs drive employment and prosperity

James M. Hohman | November 12, 2019

Entrepreneurs drive employment and prosperity

What You Really Need to Know about Michigan Charter Schools

MLive errs in comparison of academic performance

Ben DeGrow | November 12, 2019

MLive errs in comparison of academic performance

College Instructors Not Getting Rich, But Downtrodden A Stretch

$69k community college instructor, union president laments poor pay in newspaper essay

Tom Gantert | November 12, 2019

Teacher Shortage? For Physics Maybe, But Not Phys-Ed

Union pay restrictions prevent schools from filling some slots

Tom Gantert | November 11, 2019

Detroit Schools Fiscal Decline Began Before Emergency Manager

Media narrative blames school district’s deficits on state, ignore its previous history

Tom Gantert | November 9, 2019

Detroit Schools Enroll More Low Income Students, Get More Money

Despite richer tax base, Grosse Pointe schools get less per student than Detroit

Tom Gantert | November 8, 2019

Michigan’s Not Good For Wind Power, So Consumers Energy Customers Will Pay More

Under 2016 state regulation rewrite, electric utility monopoly makes money either way

Tom Gantert | November 7, 2019

Conflict Of Interest: Officials With Turbine Tower Leases Approve Wind Development

‘First you harvest the (local) officials, then you can harvest the wind’

Dawson Bell | November 5, 2019

Olympic Pool Holds 12 Times Annual Road Runoff Saved By $475K Great Lakes Grant

Total Great Lakes Restoration Initiative spending at $300 million a year

Tom Gantert | November 5, 2019

The Bipartisan State Budget

Budgets generate a lot of conflict, but not a lot of partisan spending

James M. Hohman | November 4, 2019

Budgets generate a lot of conflict, but not a lot of partisan spending

Taxpayers Pay $50 Million For State Police Double-Dipping Program Since 2015

Incentives let active officers also receive pensions during last six years on the job

Sandy Malone | November 4, 2019

EPA Gives Over $6M For Environmental Justice Activism

Great Lakes program will give Wisconsin tribe $80k more

Tom Gantert | November 2, 2019

Mission Creep: Money Touted As Protecting Lakes Goes To ‘Environmental Justice’

Wild rice beds, turtles, rare plants also get money sold as protecting Great Lakes

Tom Gantert | November 1, 2019

Bill Would Allow Banks To Offer Secretary Of State Services

Stories of long wait times prompt effort to have banks renew licenses and car registrations

Tom Gantert | October 30, 2019

Large Hospitals Want State Monopoly On New Cancer Treatment

And a state commission will give it to them unless legislature acts

Dawson Bell | October 30, 2019

New York Times Fits Narrative By Misreporting CapCon Article

Request for correction gets a form letter, no correction

Tom Gantert | October 29, 2019

Federal Appeals Court Doesn’t Buy U-M’s Story On Speech-Chilling Bias Response Team

Orders district court to reconsider the operation’s ‘implicit threat of consequence’

Sandy Malone | October 28, 2019

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