Michigan Business groups and even some Republicans back the Democratic governor’s plan to ease college access. But a Detroit study suggests free tuition plans are more apt to fail without extra support like counselors.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Ending pot board is Whitmer payback to Michigan marijuana lobby
Licensing board member Don Bailey accuses Gov. Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel of putting political favors ahead of public safety and predicts the criminal element will thrive in marijuana industry.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Senate panel rejects Whitmer gas tax, as budget dance continues
Senate Republicans adopted a state transportation budget without any new long-term funding for roads. That proposal will come this summer, Republicans said.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Electric car fees in Michigan would soar under Whitmer’s roads plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposal to boost gas taxes by 45 cents would also make Michigan’s electric vehicle fees the highest in the nation. Critics say that comes atop other state policies that have discouraged sales of cleaner cars.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan mulls lifting barrier to solar energy on farmland
A task force is considering whether farmers enrolled in a preservation program should be allowed to add solar panels.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer seeks a $5 million Pure Michigan cut to apply to roads. GOP balks.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration says cutting $5 million from the Pure Michigan marketing budget will free up money for roads and schools. But two key House and Senate Republicans want to keep the popular campaign intact.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer and Republican leaders join forces to study Michigan jail reforms
Elected leaders, judges and law enforcement want to learn more about the state’s crowded jails in an era of lower crime rates, in hopes of crafting new laws to reduce the inmate population, cut costs and right wrongs.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer’s road funding plan could pit Michigan cities against rural areas
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed making roads with the heaviest traffic a priority for more than $2 billion in new funding. That’s not going over well in rural Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer halts action on Line 5 tunnel
Gretchen Whitmer’s move follows a legal opinion from fellow Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel, who issued a legal opinion claiming the creation state authority to oversee the tunnel is unconstitutional.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer’s plan to raise business tax a hard sell to Michigan Legislature
The Democratic governor says the increase will likely be offset by tax relief elsewhere. Critics say that’s unlikely and warn that higher taxes will reverse gains Republicans attribute to business-friendly reforms from 2011.