State lawmakers could vote as soon as Wednesday on a roughly $60 billion budget bill that few have seen. It’s the latest development involving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who campaigned on a pledge of transparency but has been slow to release information during the pandemic.
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
Voting activists get twin victories in Michigan with transport, ballot cases
In separate rulings, judges rule that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 will count in the election and block a ban on providing transportation to the polls.
Posted inMichigan Government
Militias, far-right groups recast selves as mainstream at Lansing gun rally
An annual Second Amendment rally in the capital saw traditional gun rights groups joined by a variety of militia and far-right organizations who say they are needed to protect against government overreach and the unrest they equate with protests over police violence.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
In tense hearing, Whitmer official defends MI COVID nursing home strategy
Republican legislators accused Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration of failing to adequately prepare for the pandemic. “20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing,” countered state health director Robert Gordon.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Senate votes to let clerks open absentee ballot envelopes day early
Michigan law now allows clerks to process absentee ballots only on Election Day. Municipal clerks say that would be a “recipe for disaster” this year given an expected surge and would delay results reporting in a closely watched presidential election.
Posted inMichigan Government
Schools, local governments spared from cuts under Michigan budget deal
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and Republican legislative leaders said Monday they’ve agreed to a framework for the 2021 budget that will protect funding for K-12 schools and local governments despite revenue declines amid COVID-19.
Posted inMichigan Government
Guns still allowed inside Michigan Capitol, after ban shot down again
More than four months after armed protesters brought weapons inside during a tense legislative debate, the Michigan Capitol Commissioners rejected proposals that would have banned guns from the building or prohibited open carry. But they say the debate is not over.
Posted inMichigan Government
Joe Biden touts ‘Buy American’ jobs plan, rips Donald Trump in Michigan
The Democratic presidential nominee outlined his plan to boost manufacturing as he wooed blue-collar workers in Macomb County. He also blasted Donald Trump’s handling of COVID-19, accusing the president of a “life-and-death betrayal of the American people.”
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Supreme Court questions Whitmer’s ‘profound’ power during pandemic
Justices grilled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s attorney for more than an hour and a half Wednesday, questioning the limits of her authority to take emergency actions without legislative approval during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inMichigan Government
News or ads? Liberal sites in Michigan spend big to hype Slotkin, Democrats
Progressives are taking a cue from conservatives and founding ‘news’ sites like Courier Newsroom, which spends big money on election-year social media ads to benefit Democratic in swing districts such as U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly.