Michigan Capitol Confidential

Selective subsidies are a losing strategy for Michigan

Corporate welfare does not fuel high-growth states and is not the answer for Michigan Read more

Two Detroit museums net $4M each in state budget

Detroit museums awarded money from the state budget two years in a row Read more

The missteps of the Michigan Legislature were many in 2023

Forced unionization, pork, and corporate welfare are the story of first half of the 102nd Legislature Read more

Grand Rapids Ballet awarded $1.8M in state budget

Ballets’ budget in 2022 was $3.2M Read more

In Michigan, regulations contribute to high housing costs

Half as many housing permits were issued in 2022 as in 2005 in Michigan Read more

Ford pares back Marshall plant, and state incentives will follow

Automaker will hire 800 fewer people than planned; investment will shrink by $1.3 billion Read more

Auditor: 97% of Michigan’s $18B in COVID spending was federal money

A single firm earned nearly $149M producing commercials Read more

Flint business consultants get $500K from 2024 state budget

Comes on the heels of grants in 2019 and 2020 Read more

In Michigan, central planning is not the path to freedom

If you disagree with elected officials, there is a process for that. Not so much for bureaucrats. Read more

EV battery maker gets $189M in corporate welfare, lays off 170 employees

Mass layoffs come less than two years after incentive package Read more

MSU loses claim that student privacy trumps transparency law

Universities increasingly cite federal privacy law to withhold information Read more

Michigan township’s ban on short-term rentals brings lawsuit

Park Township’s enforcement of long-neglected ban began in October. Litigation soon followed. Read more

Michigan lawmakers roll the dice on grant for Greektown

Street redesign in downtown Detroit bags $20M of taxpayer cash Read more

Hill Harper and the problem of financial disclosure in Michigan

Feds have teeth to police incomplete financial disclosures; under bills headed to Whitmer’s desk, Michigan does not Read more

Detroit charter network up for $1 million award

Charter schools overcame resistance from Detroit’s school district Read more

Michigan lawmakers give Ann Arbor $1M for a splash pad

All told, Tree City got $7M from Michigan taxpayers in 2024 budget Read more

Is democracy too messy in Michigan?

While voters speak up in Oakland and Mecosta County, Lansing lawmakers dismantle local control Read more

Nessel distances self from AG opinion in lawsuit response

AG argues that the interpretation driving Michigan tax law is “not at issue” in suit Read more

Sine Die: Democrats lose majority; Legislature will adjourn for the year

Bills passed in January will require bipartisan support Read more

Michigan House passes financial disclosure bill

Critics blast the timing and lack of teeth in the bills as lawmakers pass legislation in 3 weeks Read more

Gotion project brings 5 job losses in Green Township

Voters in 2 districts punish supporters of heavily subsidized battery plant Read more

Michigan Democrats will lose House majority but hold speakership

As 54-54 House tie looms, Democrat Joe Tate keeps gavel Read more

Scripps: One-half percent of Michigan’s land needed for wind, solar projects

Land devoted to wind and solar would go from 17,000 acres to 209,000 under state zoning plan Read more

Michigan energy transition will cost people their jobs, lawmakers admit

Lawmakers create bureaucracy to make plan for workers displaced by energy transition Read more

Michigan Senate passes financial disclosure bills, but critics blast timing

Facing a Dec. 31 deadline, lawmakers submitted the first bill on Oct. 24 Read more