Despite gains, women lawmakers who ‘lean in’ take more ‘heat, ugliness and threats,’ Whitmer says. Lansing is roiling from GOP chair calling women ‘witches’ and harassment claims against Democratic consultant.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan is a deputy editor for Bridge Michigan. He helps plan and execute in-depth reporting and campaign coverage. As a longtime political reporter, Jonathan was named 2021 Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. He and a colleague shared that honor again in 2023, when they 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 September of 2019. He's from Grand Rapids, lives in Lansing and loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP chair calls Whitmer, Nessel, Benson ‘witches’ who should be burned
In a speech to Oakland County activists, state Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser also announced plans for a petition drive to tighten voting laws to give the GOP an edge.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP plan would curb confidential severance deals
A Republican proposal would restrict confidential separation agreements such as the deal $155,000 to Gov. Whitmer’s former health director that some call ‘hush money.’
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP unveils election ‘reforms.’ Most would make voting harder.
Mandatory IDs, limits on absentee ballot drop boxes and a ban on prepaid postage are among the limits Michigan Republicans are proposing in what they can an effort to deter fraud. Others call it voter suppression.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP mounts ‘election integrity’ push. Democrats fear suppression.
Conservatives say they’re trying to curb fraud with effort to make absentee voting harder. Others say it would be “the biggest infringement on voter rights to ever be put into public policy in this state.”
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer: COVID tests for student athletes, but more fans for Detroit Tigers
As coronavirus cases surge in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is moving to mandate student athlete testing while expanding capacity at Comerica Park. That has some worried.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan House passes transparency plan fourth time. Will Senate finally act?
The Michigan House on Thursday unanimously approved legislation that would open the governor’s office and Legislature up to public records requests, advancing a ‘sunshine week’ package that has repeatedly died in the Senate.
Posted inMichigan Government
Amid diversity debate, white supremacists recruit at Upper Peninsula school
Michigan Technological University has had a series of controversies over institutional racism. Now, a racist hate group has turned its sights on the predominantly white school, amid a surge in hate crimes statewide.
Posted inMichigan Government
Ex-Michigan health boss refuses to talk to lawmakers on secret exit deal
In a letter to the House Oversight Committee Thursday, Robert Gordon didn’t detail the reasons for his abrupt departure in January but alluded to “robust conversations about policy issues where reasonable people could disagree and did.
Posted inMichigan Government
Critics say Michigan open-government reform legislation has too many loopholes
A bipartisan package is advancing to partially open the records of the governor and lawmakers. But critics say it is watered down with exemptions and allows officials to destroy records before they become public.