Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan says Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed overhaul of how the insurer is regulated will lead to better, more affordable health care for Michigan residents. But one group that could eventually see much higher rates for coverage is senior citizens who buy Blue Cross Medicare supplement policies, known as Medigap coverage. […]
Uncertainty surrounds future of Blues’ Medigap coverage
Posted inSuccess
A hope for homeless youth in Detroit’s Covenant House
Sam Joseph once spotted a former resident playing basketball in Covenant House Michigan’s gated five-acre campus. It was Prince, who had been a homeless teen when he found shelter, education and life-skills training at Covenant House Michigan, then got a scholarship and moved on to Ferris State University. “Why are you here? Did you get […]
Posted inMichigan Government
For cities in crisis, a wonk in wingtips
Fred Headen has been in the news lately, for reasons that do not necessarily burnish Michigan’s image. As director of the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Local Government Services, Headen has played a regular role in reviewing the finances of Michigan’s most troubled cities. He’s served on local finance review teams and helped oversee how […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: It’s time to stop distorting truth about Common Core
By David Musselwhite/Michigan PTA The Common Core, a comprehensive set of internationally-benchmarked and comprehensive K-12 standards in mathematics and English Language Arts, has fallen prey to exaggerated and dishonest criticism from educators and Washington think tanks. It isn’t difficult to find naysayers who lump the Common Core into arguments against what they call “corporate education reform.” […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Citizen input sought on Michigan’s to-do list
By John Austin/Michigan Economic Center All of us who live in — and love – Michigan have some deep-rooted sense of what makes the state special. Our great outdoors and spectacular lakes. Our cars, the open road, hauling the camper or snowmobile Up North. Great colleges and universities that bring us together on football Saturdays […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education” — Henry B. Adams, 19th century American historian. *A last blast of summer: What do you get when you mix tubing, an invasive species, slow-motion photography and an aria?: http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com /2012/09/mental-health-break-22.html * Michigan policy has been moving in a strong pro-cyberschool direction recently. Other […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Attempt to link teachers to Detroit-Windsor bridge earns flagrant foul from Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “So why” Who: People Should Decide, pro-Proposal 6 ballot committee What: Mailer Truth Squad call: Flagrant foul As reported previously at Truth Squad, “The People Should Decide is a ballot question committee funded, according to available campaign finance statements, almost entirely from interests linked to Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel Moroun and […]
Posted inMichigan Government
'Steel' ad on Proposal 6 gets technical foul from Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Steel man” Who: The People Should Decide, pro-Prop 6 ballot committee What: TV/Web ad Truth Squad call: Technical foul As reported previously at Truth Squad, “The People Should Decide is a ballot question committee funded, according to available campaign finance statements, almost entirely from interests linked to Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Both sides dinged by Truth Squad in House race involving Speaker Bolger
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: House District 63 — Jase Bolger vs. Bill Farmer Who: Committee to Elect Bill Farmer (http://reformourhouse.com/), Michigan Democratic Party (bolgergate.com), Committee to Elect Jase Bolger (www.electbolger.com) What: Websites Truth Squad calls: Foul, Technical foul This Truth Squad report covers numerous campaign materials from both sides in the race for the seat […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan can teach plenty more preschoolers
In his April 2011 special message on education reform, Gov. Rick Snyder extolled early childhood education as an economic engine for the state. The speech was 13 pages long. He could have made the same point by just introducing legislators to Lilly Wolf. Lilly attended the state-funded Great Start Readiness Program last year in Hartford […]