An unlikely alliance of Voters Not Politicians and GOP leaders are discussing opening public records access laws, lobbying reforms, personal financial disclosures, ethics oversight and limitations on aggressive legislating during the state’s so-called lame-duck session.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan Oosting is a deputy editor at Bridge Michigan, helping plan and direct in-depth reporting and political coverage. A longtime Capitol reporter, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association in 2021 and shared the honor again in 2023, when he and a colleague were also named Journalists of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit chapter. Jonathan covered the state Capitol for The Detroit News and MLive before joining Bridge in 2019. He earned a master's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
From Grand Rapids and based in Lansing, Jonathan loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan’s roads have turned to crap. So has a strike among road builders.
A months-long union worker strike at one of Michigan’s largest road building firms has delayed some pavement projects and shows no signs of letting up as the summer construction season nears an end.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Anti-gerrymandering group may team with GOP to tackle term limits
Interest in changing Michigan’s strict legislative term limits may produce an unlikely alliance: Voters Not Politicians, the GOP and Michigan Chamber.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Pure Michigan gets reprieve, but its future is cloudy amid budget showdown
Work on Pure Michigan tourism ads will continue through at least the end of the year after approval to use $740K to pay firms. Its long-term status remains shaky after a $37.5 million budget veto.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
How Michigan Republicans nearly gutted discrimination investigations
In an under-the-radar move, the GOP tried to shift $1.5 million from the Department of Civil Rights to three private museums. The move came as hate crimes are increasing.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Former Michigan Governor William Milliken dies at 97
Known for his ability to reach across the aisle, the Republican and state’s longest serving governor served Michigan as waterways commissioner, state senator and lieutenant governor before becoming governor.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer eases access to welfare in Michigan
The Democratic governor loosens policies restricting how much money recipients can have in the bank. Critics of the old rules called them ‘cruel and unusual,’ but Republicans fear the new limits will increase fraud.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Judge: Jury should decide if Michigan Rep. Larry Inman broke the law
Were Michigan Rep. Larry Inman’s solicitations for donations ‘legitimate legislative sausage making’ or a ‘criminal attempt to extort money’? A jury will decide, after a judge declines to dismiss the case.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Plans for visitor center at Michigan Capitol downsized after Whitmer veto
A visitor center next to the state Capitol will be smaller after the first-term governor nixes an additional $15 million for the project.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Dana Nessel adopts Trump defense in heated LGBT Michigan adoption case
Attorney General Nessel is asking the judge to ignore her heated rhetoric as a private citizen and suspend his recent ruling allowing faith-based adoption agencies to refuse service to gay or transgender parents.