Democrats argue Republicans are violating the Michigan Constitution by conducting a ‘legal review’ rather than sending previously approved bills to the governor for signature.
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Report card: Gretchen Whitmer’s 48 promises during State of State speeches
Bridge Michigan’s analysis of six speeches shows the Democratic governor has had her most success implementing gun reforms and social policy, but struggled with infrastructure. The verdict is out on education.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fact check: Gretchen Whitmer has made big promises. Here’s how she’s done
Bridge Michigan has analyzed six years of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State speeches to see how she’s delivered. She’s had more success working with Democratic lawmakers and accomplished about half her goals.
Posted inMichigan Government
Ranked choice voting: Michigan group plans 2026 ballot proposal. What to know
Organizers with Rank MI Vote say the election overhaul would ‘empower’ Michigan voters by allowing them to choose more than one candidate. Critics call it an overly complicated, unnecessary reform.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Senate Dems threaten to sue GOP-run House over bills in limbo
Three weeks into Michigan’s newly divided government, Senate Democrats prepare to sue House Republicans over bills approved last year but not yet sent to the governor for potential signature.
Posted inMichigan Government
Who funds Michigan lawmakers? Most get cash from PACs, not voters they represent
Michigan lawmakers get most of their campaign cash from PACs that represent industries and other special interests, including labor unions and business groups. Experts ask: Who will they listen to in Lansing?
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Democrats’ pension, retirement bills in limbo amid GOP ‘legal review’
Michigan Democrats approved the bills last month but didn’t send them to the governor. House Republicans aren’t doing it for them.
Posted inMichigan Government
Billionaires, dark money dominate record-setting Michigan election spending
Money from undisclosed sources and the ultrawealthy made up the largest chunks of Michigan political spending in 2024 elections.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan transparency plans die again, keeping public in the dark
Michigan is one of only two states in the nation that fully exempts its governor and Legislature from public records requests. That won’t change after majority Democrats fail to finalize a plan by the end of the two-year session.
Posted inMichigan Government
Dems go it alone in Michigan House, where chaotic meeting ends in lame-duck limbo
After GOP walkout, Michigan House Democrats pass slew of bills to regulate book bans, simplify gender changes on state IDs and more – before a Democratic departure forces an abrupt adjournment.