Two months after voters approve three ballot measures, Michigan lawmakers approve reforms that critics say would make it impossible to place measures on the ballot.
Michigan Government
Citizens cannot do their job of running their government if they don’t know what their public servants are doing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers dole out $1B in wee hours, lame-duck spending spree
Pennies from heaven? Try millions and millions. Michigan lawmakers approve $1.3 billion in extra funding for toxic cleanups, roads and tons of pet projects.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan bill allowing legislative lawsuits goes to Gov. Snyder
The state Legislature may soon have a voice in court under a bill that is under consideration by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Posted inMichigan Government
Out of the shadows: The people and motives behind one of the nation's worst cases of gerrymandering
Jan. 17, 2019: Michigan secretary of state wants to settle gerrymandering lawsuit Emails suggest Republicans gerrymandered Michigan to weaken ‘Dem garbage’ Emails involving Republican strategists and the Michigan Chamber emerge in a federal lawsuit. The messages suggest that helping GOP candidates was the central focus in redrawing legislative boundaries back in 2011. Voting results deliver on […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lame duck: Ballot rules may tighten, campaign finance stays with SOS
A controversial change to the state’s ballot petition signature gathering requirements moved one step closer to becoming law Wednesday. Two other Republican efforts fell short as lame duck session nears the finish line.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan population almost 10M again. These maps and charts explain how.
Michigan remains the 10th largest state in the nation, but slow population growth after a lost decade likely means the state will lose another congressional district after 2020.
Posted inMichigan Government
School grades, toxic waste and dark money: Your Michigan lame duck roundup
Lawmakers passed bills Tuesday to conceal identities of donors to political nonprofits, assign letter grades to schools and change toxic waste standards, among other measures.
Posted inMichigan Government
Lansing looks to bonds to help solve local pension, health-care debts
A lame-duck bill that would allow more Michigan communities to use bonds to pay for spiraling pension and retiree health care legacy costs is expected to soon reach Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk.
Posted inMichigan Government
Bill to protect ‘dark money’ groups in Michigan passes House
The Republican bill would largely prevent the incoming Democratic Secretary of State and Attorney General from accessing information about groups that influence elections.
Posted inMichigan Government
Snyder signs bills that weaken Michigan minimum wage, sick leave laws
The term-limited Republican governor said he agreed with the GOP Legislature that the original laws passed earlier this year would harm economic progress in Michigan. Advocates for workers vowed a lawsuit.