Peter Luke was a Lansing correspondent for Booth Newspapers for nearly 25 years, writing a weekly column for most of that time with a concentration on budget, tax and economic development policy issues. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University. A governor working in a politically divided government often has no choice but to […]
Rick Snyder
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
GOING DOWN: The Citizens Research Council calculates that with inflation and payments to retirement programs, per-pupil funding reaching Michigan classrooms has declined since 2004. (courtesy graphic/Citizens Research Council) *Confused about the claims over school funding? Is it going up, as Gov. Rick Snyder and allies claim, or down, as school groups say? The nonpartisan Citizens […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Will there ever be a good time to fund road repairs?
By Craig Thiel/Anderson Economic Group (courtesy photo/used under Creative Commons license) A long-term funding fix to Michigan’s deteriorating road and bridge infrastructure system can’t seem to catch a break. For much of the last decade, Michigan’s anemic economic performance made the prospect of raising the necessary revenues to fund road and bridge investment a “non-starter” […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
In turnaround, suburbs lose business to Detroit after years of flight
(Bridge illustration by A.J. Jones) The Southeast Michigan office of Grand Rapids-based public relations firm Lambert Edwards & Co. had been located for years in a gleaming high-rise Troy tower, surrounded by a sea of asphalt parking lots and clogged highways. “You couldn’t walk out your door to get a sandwich,” President Jeff Lambert said. […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
What does Michigan have to do to get a little love?
Gov. Rick Snyder has spared no effort in making Michigan “business-friendly,” but the message has been slow to spread. So Michigan cuts business taxes by $2.4 billion, stages a political war (because that’s apparently what’s been lacking) that favors business over labor, more than balances the state budget and finally takes ownership of arguably its […]
Posted inPhil's Column
State leaders navigating a route to new dollars for roads
Phil Power is founder and chairman of the Center for Michigan. Finding money to fix our crumbling roads has been by far the biggest (ahem) roadblock in Lansing for many months. Although nobody’s willing to come out and say so publicly, within the last few days a structure has emerged for getting the estimated $1.2 […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Stressed cities hear little sympathy from State Capitol
DISCUSSION CLOSED: Republican leaders who run the State Capitol have rebuffed appeals from local governments to boost the flow of tax dollars from the state. Will last week’s announcement of nearly $500 million in “new” revenue change the debate? (Bridge archive photo) Michigan cities expecting a helping hand from Lansing as they dig out of […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Sewer overflows declining, but heavy rains still push sewage into streams
APRIL SHOWERS BRING …: Torrential rains across Michigan overwhelmed sewer systems, leading to the release of more than 1 billion gallons of tainted water into lakes and streams. (courtesy photo) Billions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage are still fouling the state’s rivers, lakes and streams, despite years of work by state and […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Critics of ‘Common Core’ school standards are worried about politics, not learning
Phil Power is founder and chairman of the Center for Michigan. Michigan was one of 45 states which adopted “Common Core” standards back in 2010. The standards are aimed at setting out the kinds of skills that will qualify kids to successfully meet 21st century challenges, both in post-secondary education and fulfilling careers. There are […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
COMING DOWN?: The two observation towers in Michigan’s Irish Hills – one built out of “spite” – will be demolished in October unless preservation advocates can raise enough money to save them. (Bridge archive photo) *Historic observation platforms in Michigan’s Irish Hills, near Jackson, face the wrecking ball unless history buffs can raise the money […]