By Brad Garmon/Michigan Environmental Council Depending on where you hang your political hat, United Nations Agenda 21’s environmental recommendations represent one of two things. It could be the playbook of a shadowy global elite working to achieve total “global control,” in the words of former Fox News provocateur Glenn Beck. This is a commonly held […]
Michigan Legislature
Posted inBusiness Watch
Right to Work bills revamp how courts handle challenges to them
In September, an Ingham County Circuit Court judge ruled against a state law backed by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican legislative majority to require state employees to make an additional payment to their pension plan. It’s not the first time that an Ingham County judge has ruled against the state as part of that […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Interest high in Right to Work; gains unclear
Gov. Rick Snyder has engaged in some shuttle diplomacy in recent days, talking with opponents and supporters of Right to Work, which limits requirements for participation in union activities by employees. RTW is something the governor has repeatedly said is divisive and not on his agenda, yet the idea has been the subject of much […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
Blue Cross getting quite a deal at Capitol
Spend more than $500,000 on lobbying and write nearly $1.2 million in PAC checks in an election cycle, the chances are pretty good that the post-election lame duck legislation you’re seeking is going to be delivered in pretty much the form you expect. So it’s been relatively smooth sailing for Blue Cross Blue Shield of […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Bills would turn Michigan into 'super choice' state
Michigan Board of Education President John Austin calls it a “nuclear bomb.” National education reformer Diane Ravitch proclaims “Michigan is on its way to ending public education.” Michigan Future Inc. President Lou Glazer warns that local school districts won’t survive. Welcome to education reform in Michigan, circa 2012. A coordinated series of draft and introduced […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Retirement lawsuit bites into school budgets
When legislative reform of the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System promised to cap school districts’ contributions at a flat 24.46 percent of payroll, many administrators reached for something else to uncap, in celebration. However, months later, with challenges to the reforms working their way through the courts, the bottle being opened might be holding […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
Perhaps it’s time to leave constitutional amendments to the Legislature
A few final takeaways from the November election: Representative democracy is generally more effective than direct democracy. In 2010, voter turnout was 43 percent and an older, whiter Michigan electorate wiped out the majority that Democrats had built in the Michigan House in the previous two elections. On Nov. 6, turnout by a younger, more […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Electric deregulation cap protects customers
The out-of-state power marketers are at it again. They’re pushing to expand electric deregulation in Michigan under the guise of “competition.” As usual, they’re promising a brighter, better future for the state’s families and businesses, if they can just get their way. An old saying applies here: “If it looks too good to be true, it […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Pure Michigan’s natural assets are under assault
By Chris Bunch/ Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy The Michigan Legislature is taking aim at land conservancies, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Department of Natural Resources and land conservation in general. The land conservancies in Southeast Michigan, along with the rest of the natural resource conservation community here, are surprised, frustrated and dismayed. […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Senator: 'A primary objective should be to return land to private ownership'
State Sen. Tom Casperson has become a lightning rod for criticism from environmentalists and some conservation groups. The Escanaba Republican wrote the initial land cap legislation. He advocates for increased logging in state forests. And he has championed legislation that would make it easier for people to build in coastal sand dunes. Casperson’s supporters have […]