By Bob Sornson/Early Learning Foundation (courtesy photo/used under Creative Commons license) Across our nation there is a growing debate. How much should we spend to support early childhood programs? How should we spend it? Why should we spend our money on other people’s kids? The debate is often poorly informed, but at least we […]
Bridge Staff
Bridge’s mission is to inform Michigan citizens about their state, amplify their views and explore the challenges of our civic life.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Owosso’s budget woes are warning to state policy-makers
By Tom Cook Tom Cook is a member of the Owosso City Council and executive director of the Cook Family Foundation. The city of Owosso has a budget problem — and has had one for the last five years. Good management, tough policy decisions and sacrifices by residents and employees of the Shiawassee County community […]
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 inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Early education funding is a win for kids, Michigan
By Jim McHale/W.K. Kellogg Foundation Over the past year, support for high-quality early childhood education programs has been gaining traction in Michigan. What began as a conversation has transformed into a movement consisting of lawmakers, parents, business leaders and communities working together to improve conditions for Michigan’s children. Jim McHale is vice president for program […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Michigan leaders recognize the wisdom of investing in preschoolers
By Debbie Dingell and Doug Luciani/Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan Debbie Dingell is president of d2 Strategies and a co-chair of the Children’s Leadership Council, a group of more than 100 business and other leaders from across Michigan. We tip our hats to Michigan’s governor and the Legislature for funding expansion of the state’s […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Policy-makers should skip Mackinac Island and visit some classrooms
By Ken Winter (courtesy photo/used under Creative Commons license) PETOSKEY – I won’t be one of the 1,500 or so of Michigan’s top businessmen, politicians and other leaders converging for three days this week on Mackinac Island for the Mackinac Policy Conference. I cancelled my plans to attend so I could substitute for a local […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Time to lay down arms – and save money – in marijuana fight
By Rep. Jeff Irwin MAKING PEACE WITH MARY JANE: Marijuana, whether used medicinally or recreationally, is here to stay, writes Jeff Irwin. (Courtesy photo/used under Creative Commons license) The time has come for a more sensible approach to marijuana in Michigan. From a practical perspective, we know that marijuana prohibition is a failure. Michigan state […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: New revenue-sharing model shortchanges and infuriates municipalities
By David Lossing/Michigan Municipal League The Economic Vitality Incentive Program, a.k.a. EVIP, has been around for a couple of years now. EVIP is a program created by the state in 2011 to eliminate statutory revenue sharing and replace it with an “incentive” based program with only two-thirds of the previous funding. Under the program, local […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Bridge and Detroit Free Press partner for 'A Better Michigan'
By Stephen Henderson/Detroit Free Press Editorial Page Editor When Michigan voters said “no way” to fixing Michigan’s awful and unfair school finance structure in 1993, no one I knew was more crushed than legendary Free Press Editorial Page Editor Joe Stroud. For months, he led a passionate campaign for reform, in the face of both […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest commentary: Keep world-class standards for Michigan learners
By Doug Rothwell/Business Leaders for Michigan Business Leaders for Michigan supports continued use of the Common Core State Standards in Michigan, writes Doug Rothwell. (courtesy image/used under Creative Commons license) This year, Michigan public schools began using the kind of high-quality content standards that our kids need to be competitive in the 21st century. Used […]