Michigan is one of the stingiest states in the nation when it comes to funding public health. Is it any wonder we’re having trouble in a pandemic?
Eric Lupher
A guest author for Bridge Magazine.
Eric Lupher is president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a nonprofit public affairs research organization
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | The first step to social change is easy: fill out the census
Michigan cities need to increase census response rates, or risk losing political representation that can lead to change.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan, let’s make a road finance movie
There is a legitimate role for bond financing in road construction and maintenance, but that is to accelerate construction, not as a source of funding. Without a new revenue stream to finance the debt, the state would only be borrowing against future revenue, the guest author writes.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan spending more on education, but teacher pay stagnant
Lansing’s failures to adequately manage and fund the state retirement system of teachers is chewing up the small annual increases in the state budget for K-12 education.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Special assessments are a tax by another name
You probably don’t know you’re paying it. You probably shouldn’t be paying it.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | No teacher shortage yet in Michigan, but the talent pipeline is leaking
Fewer college students are considering careers in teaching, and new teachers flee the profession at a high rate. Michigan needs to address those issues.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Why computers alone can’t fix Michigan gerrymandering
Why do we need a redistricting commission made up of fallible, possibly biased people to redraw Michigan’s political boundaries? Can’t a computer do that? Eric Lupher explains why you need both
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | The primary election is over: Let’s talk about public health
It doesn’t get the attention of an issue like crumbling roads, but public health is a vital part of our infrastructure, and we need to invest in it.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Challenge to Michigan redistricting initiative show need for reform
Putting reviews of ballot initiatives at the end of the process creates headaches and expensive misfires, says the president of the Citizens Research Council.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan term limits sounded good, but they’ve failed
Michigan has had a quarter century of experience with term limits, but the promises of a more dynamic democracy never came to fruition.