"Expanding a statewide program and betting that the federal dollars will be there long term would be very risky for a state like Michigan," said former congressman Pete Hoekstra. "There are already people in Washington, D.C., talking about cutting dollars on the federal end and putting more of a burden on the states." … more

There is no clearer image of the failure of Michigan's public education system than that of a school official knocking on doors and asking to see children’s bedrooms to catch families that are simply trying to provide the best education for their children. … more

Notice of the rally was posted on Facebook and progressive blogs, and notices were sent to 8,000 teachers and public education supporters, according to one organizer, but turnout barely filled the front lawn of the capitol.  … more

Last week, 28 Republicans in the Michigan House helped pass House Bill 4714 to expand Medicaid in Michigan. … more

The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is considering legislation to raise taxes on vehicle owners as a way to get more money for roads. Roads may need the extra attention but there is no need to increase taxes on net balance. … more

There were 290 jobs in "post production and other related industries" in 2004. However, that number dropped to 153 jobs in 2008 and then increased to 160 jobs in 2011, the most recent year data is available. … more

Prominent advocates of renewable energy received a harsh blow from Federal Judge Richard Posner on June 7. He wrote in a case involving renewable energy: "Michigan cannot, without violating the commerce clause of Article I of the Constitution, discriminate against out-of-state renewable energy." … more

Consider in 2011-12, Albion Public Schools spent $12,447 per student, which includes local, state and federal general fund dollars. By comparison, the state spending average was $9,531. And Albion spent 30 percent more in 2011-12 than it did in 2000 when the district spent $9,541 per student when factoring in inflation. … more

Local businesses would like nothing more than to block the competition that Wal-Mart represents so they are not pressured into changing their own business practices to keep their customers happy. They would love to keep their limited hours and selection and higher prices, but they also know that consumers will flock to Wal-Mart if given the opportunity.  … more

Legislation has been introduced that would allow pension double-dipping by some retired prison workers; reduce the rigor of high school graduation requirements and increase hunting and fishing license fees. … more

Eighteen right-to-work states had cities crack the top 100. There were six non-right-to-work states and Washington D.C. that made the top 100. Texas has the most cities in the top 100 with 27. California had nine cities and Georgia had eight. … more

The union didn’t take into consideration that charter campuses like Cesar Chavez take on student who are disproportionally from circumstances of poverty, abuse and neglect and serve high percentages of children from low-income families, … more

Sen. Roger Kahn playfully sported an eye patch while his proposal for a "Talk Like A Pirate Day" was discussed, but the moment of frivolity is bound to remind observers of how members of a full-time Legislature can be full-time mischief makers, whether they intend to or not. … more

The House Michigan Competitiveness Committee voted 9-5 Wednesday to send House Bill 4714 to the House of Representatives for a vote.

That action contradicts what many Republicans have said about Medicaid expansion the past few weeks. … more

Over the past two decades, public school students in the state of Florida have made the second highest gains in the nation on standardized test scores while increasing overall spending on education the least. Meanwhile, despite the impression given by unions and officials in the conventional public school system, district spending in Michigan increased substantially higher while returning lower results. … more

A Medicaid expansion bill that is a critical component of Obamacare implementation was heavily revised by a Republican-led Michigan House committee on Tuesday, stripping away key reforms that some GOP legislators had previously insisted be included. … more

According to newly released data, Michigan ranks 9th nationally in per-pupil spending on elementary and secondary education when per capita income is figured in the equation. That means that after controlling for the varying levels of wealth among the 50 states, Michigan schools spend more on average than 41 other states. … more

It might be a different year, but the story is the same. Michigan taxpayers will be paying $50 million in subsidies to the film industry. … more

If road funding is so important that it would literally "save lives," as advocates of increased road spending say, how many lives are the Legislature and governor risking by spending money on subsidies to Big Hollywood? … more

DAVISON TOWNSHIP - About 100 residents attended a meeting here Monday night to voice their concerns about the township's tax assessment department inspecting the interior of every home and property in the township. … more