They collect taxes. They borrow money. They pay interest on their loans. They spend money on public improvements to entice businesses to locate in specific areas. And they may have the most bureaucratic of names ever coined: tax increment financing authorities. In Michigan’s capital city, a TIFA allowed the city to bulldoze porn shops, build […]
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
Truth Squad calls foul on campaign doc opposing Snyder-backed bridge
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: People Should Decide mailer Who: The People Should Decide What: Mailer Truth Squad Call: Foul Questionable statement: “Snyder’s bridge. Not free. Not even close.” The flier is the latest salvo in a fierce political fight over a proposal to build a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor. The campaign document is […]
Posted inMichigan Government
More details emerge on Schmidt-Bolger election scheme
Call it the story that won’t go away. The Michigan political world was surprised this May when a long-time Democrat, state Rep. Roy Schmidt of Grand Rapids, changed his party affiliation in the last minutes of the filing period for re-election to his House seat. The circumstances of that change brought to the public’s attention […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Senate poised to tweak teacher retirement plan; major shift deferred in face of cost estimates
When the Legislature reconvenes tomorrow, the question of what to do about the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System – or MPSERS – may get a clear answer from the Senate. After failing to approve a House of Representatives reform plan on repeated occasions, or coalesce around their own change, the Senate appears ready to […]
Posted inMichigan Government
2012 primary draws typically low voter response
The 2012 August primary continued a long trend in Michigan — of voters abandoning the ballot box. The unofficial statewide turnout of 1,498,100 voters — or just 20.4 percent of those registered. Since 1978, the turnout in summer primaries has ranged from a low of 15.1 percent in 1990 (a gubernatorial election year) to a […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Center for Michigan, Bridge win battle for transparency on welfare records
Bridge Magazine and the Center for Michigan prevailed in a Freedom of Information Act appeal, gaining access to records related to Michigan residents removed from cash assistance as a result of the state’s massive welfare reform. In May, Bridge requested data from the Michigan Department of Human Services documenting how many of the more than […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Tax vote ad plays it close to the vest; no foul from Truth Squad
Who: Michigan Alliance for Prosperity What: Radio ad in favor of a ballot proposal to require supermajority tax votes Truth Squad call: No foul Questionable statements: “… the cost of living for the average family is outpacing growth in their household income. Families everywhere are paying more for basic needs like food, clothing, utilities and […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad issues warnings on biz-backed ad on union measure
Who: GrowMIjobs.org (created by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce) What: Internet ad — “Michigan: From worst to 1st in job growth” Truth Squad call: Warnings Questionable statement: “Did you hear the news? Michigan leads the nation in job growth, from worst to first in the nation.” After making that assertion, the ad scrolls through a […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Election 2012: Community stays attached to its government; confusion crops up on citizenship query
Michigan’s primary election did not pass without a couple of bumps — one for poll workers navigating Michigan election law, another for advocates of a plan to actually dissolve one of Michigan’s 1,000-plus local governments. In Onekama, southwest of Traverse City, a proposal to abolish the government of the village of Onekama — and thereby […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad issues warning over ad opposing union ballot proposals
Who: Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution What: “Auction” – radio/Web ad Truth Squad call: Warning This ad comes from Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, a group based out of the offices of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and formed to advocate against a variety of constitutional amendments headed for Michigan’s November ballot. The largest contributors to the […]