Will the Tea Party Fade if Republicans Win It All?

If they get control of Congress the GOP will try to enlist the Tea Party movement in confrontations with President Obama. Among other things they will hold noisy hearings on red-meat hot-button issues, but there may not be many actual accountability-generating roll call votes. more …

Replacing Brian Calley: The 33rd District State Senate GOP Decision

Republican delegates in mid-Michigan will decide who will be their candidate for the 33rd district state Senate race. Two of the three candidates are former state representatives. What follows is a quick examination and analysis of some of what any voter can learn about the voting records of these candidates on economic issues. more …

Legislation needed to address MEGA audit findings

The confidence of taxpayers is a cornerstone of good government. A recently released state audit of the state's main economic development program has shaken that trust. more …

Survey Says Tea Party and GOP Bonds Are Weakening

According to a recent survey done about the national movement, 81 percent of the early tea party members identified themselves as Republicans before joining the tea party movement, but that dropped to 51 percent afterward. more …

Analysis: Phony 'Sandbox Party' Uses Taxpayer Dollars to Lobby for More Goverment Spending

(Genuine) Tea Party supporters are already fuming about the dirty trick of a (fake) "The Tea Party" political party created with the assistance of Democratic Party operatives; another abuse of democracy this week may add to their ire. more …

Lawmakers Demand Time to Read Bills Before Voting on Them

Two GOP state representatives say they are routinely asked to vote on bills that they haven't had a chance to read, a practice they say they want to stop. more …

Analysis: Merit Pay in Mt. Clemens?

A new union contract in Mt. Clemens ties satisfactory teacher evaluations to pay raises, but this baby step is probably too small to have any impact on student achievement. more …

Brian Calley - Who Is This Guy?

Republican Lt. Governor nominee Brian Calley's complete voting record ... more …

Michigan is Tops for Unemployment, Bottom for Stimulus Spending

Why is a state that led the nation in unemployment for years not be the focus of the federal "jobs" bill? more …

Weekly Roundup - August 28

A weekly round-up of noteworthy news that you may have missed from this past week. more …

State Gives Failing Schools Perfect Grades for Paperwork

In the annual report card that determines whether state schools are accredited, struggling schools can get an overall of grade of "D" and avoided being unaccredited due to an automatic "A" the state gave it for filling out a report on "Indicators of School Performance." more …

Analysis: Horse Racing Subsidies Fail to Win, Place or Show

A column in the Detroit News shows remarkable sympathy for government support of Michigan's dwindling horse racing industry. Several points stand out. more …

Restaurants Say Smoking Ban Leaves Sales Cold

A recent survey by a restaurant lobbyist group shows that restaurants are seeing a drop in sales due to the state-wide smoking ban that took effect May 1. more …

Analysis: This Time It’s Liquor Distribution

It's hard to imagine how the current state liquor distribution system could be made worse, but Gov. Jennifer Granholm has discovered a way. She apparently wants to make this partial monopoly into a complete one, selling the lucrative privilege to just one outfit. more …

Comstock Public Schools Shows Taxpayers the Money

Having recently passed a bond allowing more revenue for Comstock Public Schools, voters will now know exactly where their money is being spent. more …

State Says Schools in "Distress" Are Making "Adequate Yearly Progress"

The Michigan Dept. of Education issued a press release with the headline: "More Michigan Schools Making AYP." Twelve days later, the Department of Education issued another release identifying its 92 "persistently lowest achieving schools." 55 school buildings were on both lists. more …

Analysis: Michigan Legislature No Slouch at Fiscal Malpractice

Michigan has flirted with some of the gimmicks used by state governments to deceive taxpayers (and bond buyers) about the magnitude of their unsustainable spending and liabilities more …

‘Spending Revolt’ Bus Tour Comes to Michigan

The Spending Revolt national bus tour is on the move and coming to Michigan. more …

A Lawyer Offering Few Details is Face of Mysterious ‘The Tea Party’

A rare official spokesperson for the mysterious 'The Tea Party' political party made a public appearance Monday at the State Board of Canvassers meeting in Lansing. more …

Mysterious ‘The Tea Party,’ Under Investigation and Going to Court

Whether the controversial "The Tea Party" political group makes it on the November ballot will be up to the courts after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers didn't approve the party's petition. more …

Public Salary Database Puts Political Work of State Employee Under Scrutiny

A line item in the database of state legislative employee names and salaries posted by MichCapCon.com on July 21 has become the subject of a controversy over whether an employee of the Michigan House of Representatives has or even should be drawing a political consulting salary and a taxpayer-financed legislative check at the same time.

Analysis: Plagiarism, Flawed MSU Studies, and the People vs. the Ruling Class

Alleged plagiarism in a study by an MSU scholar is in the news, and it matters more than just as a violation of academic standards. more …

Cities, Fiscal Health and Union Contracts

Local governments are in declining fiscal health that many top administrators believe will get worse in the coming year, according to a University of Michigan report.

The report states that "declining state aid, federal aid, and revenue from fees and licenses are also problems across the state." more …

Owner of "One Dollar" Race Track Property Was Not Sent Tax Bills for Two Years

The private Huron Township race course that got 240 acres of land for $1 in a deal with Wayne County and then sold part of it for $179,000 wasn't billed for property taxes in 2009 and 2010 ... more …

Weekly Roundup - August 21

A weekly round-up of noteworthy news that you may have missed from this past week. more …

Oakland County Clerk claims forged candidate filing from “fake” Tea Party

Evidence of forgery in one of the candidate statements for the "Tea Party" political party. A supposed candidate says he did not wish to be a candidate, did not sign his name on candidate statement paperwork, and had no idea his name was in the process ... more …

MSU Investigating Charges of Researcher Plagiarism

Michigan State University Professor Sharif Shakrani was read an expert's quote that appeared on the eighth page of his study the Mackinac Center says appears to be plagiarized.

Experts Analyze the Trouble with Plagiarism

A Michigan State University Education Policy Center official said that accusations of plagiarism in a study it conducted on the financial impact of consolidation of school districts doesn't impact the integrity of its findings. more …

Mona Shores Teacher Contract Summary

The average teacher salary in the Mona Shores Public Schools was $58,544 in 2009, and employees are not required to contribute anything to health insurance policies that cost the district some $12,800 annually. more …

Possible Plagiarism in MSU/Newspaper Report on School Consolidation

A school consolidation study done by Michigan State University's Education Policy Center received significant media coverage around the state. It also appears to have had portions of it plagiarized. more …

Wayland Schools Show Taxpayers the Money

Despite having fewer than 3,000 pupils, Wayland Union Schools are providing a level of spending transparency that many of the state's larger districts do not. more …

Washtenaw GOP Delegate Dispute About Ruth Johnson, Not Ron Weiser

Snyder Talks Up 'Fixing Michigan' in Chelsea

In his first town hall meeting since winning the primary, about 180 people filled an old train depot Tuesday in Chelsea and fired questions at Republican Rick Snyder ranging from what to do about unions to how to handle tax subsidies for businesses. more …

Analysis: Low-Carbon Fuel Standard a Gift to Ethanol Lobby

A low-carbon fuel standard is being pushed by some in Congress, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, as a way to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It will do little to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it is a gift to the ethanol lobby. more …

School Consolidation Is No ‘Silver Bullet’

As superintendent of the 1,700-student Godfrey Lee School District, David Britten says he also doubles as the curriculum director. this makes him skeptical of reports that say consolidation of smaller school districts could save schools millions. more …

'Bail Out Irresponsible Unions Act' Proposal Getting 11th Hour Push in Congress

Thad McCotter, R-Livonia, was one of just nine Republicans nationwide to co-sponsor a bill that would bail out multi-employer union pension funds, putting taxpayers "on the hook for $165 billion in unfunded union pension liabilities." more …

Analysis: The Public Employee Union Scam

First, government union elects politician by funding their campaign and organizing a massive get-out-the-vote drive; second, politician supports employee pay increases, generous pensions and condition of employment; third, union takes dues and starts the cycle all over again for selected politician. more …

MEDC-Endorsed Bet on Horse Track Now Under Investigation by Wayne Co.

A privately owned racecourse in Huron Township broke a promise with the county after it bought land from Wayne County for $1 and then turned around and sold it on the open market, according to a county commissioner. more …

"Edujobs" Fact Check, Part II

Michigan's share of the loot from the "edujobs" bill passed by Congress this week will be about $310 million. We're told that this will "save" 4,700 teacher jobs in Michigan. That's highly unlikely. more …

Bernero or Snyder: Which Way Could the Public Policy Winds Blow?

The senior legislative analyst at the Mackinac Center For Public Policy tries to analyze the possible policy directions that each candidate would take Michigan in ... more …