Bill Drake won an award from his peers — the people who work behind the scenes to keep the Michigan Legislature running. He’s not used to being in the center of the frame.
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
Deal to fix roads reached in lame duck, but voters must approve new tax
The bipartisan deal aligns with overwhelming public support for road investment across the state, even if it means higher taxes. The deal captures $1.2 billion a year for Michigan’s crumbling transportation infrastructure, but requires voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase in May.
Posted inMichigan Government
What state House and Senate leaders say they will do first in 2015
Four legislative leaders tell Bridge Magazine what's on their mind when the new legislative session begins in January.
Posted inMichigan Government
Legislature weighs 2 bills to aid wrongly convicted felons
Bipartisan bills to ensure DNA testing is available for some convicted felons and to compensate those who are wrongly convicted remain stalled in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Higher death rates, medical bills for Michigan motorcyclists without helmets
Government and medical studies reveal motorcyclists are more likely to die or be seriously injured if they are not wearing helmets in a crash, raising questions about the 2012 repeal of Michigan’s helmet law. A Republican Legislature sees no reason to take up the issue.
Posted inMichigan Government
Electoral College voting
Republicans are promising another effort to change the way Michigan electoral votes are apportioned in presidential races, giving Republican candidates an advantage even when most state votes go to a Democrat.
Posted inMichigan Government
Road funding
Gov. Snyder, business groups and state experts agree that more than $1 billion is needed to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads. If an agreement is not brokered in lame duck, the prospects of a deal diminish significantly in January.
Posted inMichigan Government
A-F grades for schools
Michigan currently uses a confusing, color-coded system for grading the performance of its public schools. Some lawmakers want the state to convert to an A-F grading system that they say is easier for parents and educators to understand.
Posted inMichigan Government
First meeting of Detroit financial review board on Wednesday
Gov. Rick Snyder appoints New York’s Richard Ravitch to head a nine-member commission that will oversee Detroit’s finances post-bankruptcy.
Posted inMichigan Government
Is Michigan now officially a red state?
What was once a state of solid Democratic majorities is undeniably moving in another direction, and has been for two decades. What might lie along that road?