Although many considered the study a success for charter schools, gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer apparently has a different view on school choice in Michigan. He’s dedicated a lot of his “education plan” if he were to be governor to dismantling charter schools in the state. … more

As the prospect draws closer of a state bailout of Detroit at the expense of other critical needs, voters might want to examine more closely politicians’ skittishness toward selling off city assets. In particular, artwork owned by the city’s museum, an institution sustained by tax dollars (including a regional property tax favored by many of those same politicians in 2010). … more

A poll conducted earlier this month revealed that, by a 55-38 percent margin, Republican voters in Michigan oppose Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposal to send $350 million in state funding to help bail Detroit out from its bankruptcy. According to the poll results the proposal is just as unpopular among Independents, who opposed it by a 54-39 percent margin. … more

If McDonald's were to not pay the CEO and all senior management and instead divide those tens of millions among the minimum wage workers, each worker would end up earning about 1.5 cents more per hour. … more

A retired school teacher with 30-plus years of service says he has to choose between food or medicine due to a law repealing tax exemptions for pensions. … more

The use of omnibus bills makes it easier to get most of the budget passed because it dilutes accountability. Voting for just two large budget bills prevents lawmakers from having to vote up or down on specific issues involving each department. This gives them plausible deniability. … more

Elections in MIchigan have been noteworthy over the last few cycles. Four Lansing political observers weigh in on some critical questions for MIchigan. … more

The city of Detroit gets more revenue than every other city because of special treatment in state revenue sharing, casino taxes and utility taxes. This extra money has not been enough to prevent its bankruptcy, nor were these the only favors extended to Detroit. … more

After failing to get its teachers’ evaluations done in time, one school district’s solution to simply lay off the least-experienced teachers may be against the law. … more

Tax Freedom Day is the day people have to work to in the year to cover tax bills for the state and federal government. Americans will spend $4.5 trillion on federal, state and local taxes, which is 30 percent of total income. The figures are in a yearly study done by the Tax Foundation. … more

Gov. Rick Snyder has proposed a partial bailout of the city of Detroit with a $350 million gift. The state has been providing special favors to Detroit for years and it hasn't prevented the Motor City from slipping into bankruptcy. … more

As the statewide debate over school funding continues, an Oakland County superintendent whose district receives about $515 more per student today than it did in 2010 says the district is getting less money from the state. … more

By Anita Folsom

What's especially remarkable about the stream of government aid — subsidies to the fur trade, steamships, railroads, airplanes, and even ethanol today — is that private citizens, with no federal funds, almost always outperform the men whom the government endows with large chunks of cash. … more

While some are pitching a storyline in Detroit of a bankrupt city in need of more revenue, there are ways the city collects millions of dollars in taxes that no other city can do. … more

As state politicians are primed to deliver $82 million more this year to state higher education institutions, it is appropriate to ask what taxpayers will get for this spending. Unfortunately, there will not likely be much to show for it. … more

Voters in Osceola County's Sherman Township have overturned regulations for wind turbines in referendums twice in recent years. That was enough to make Heritage Sustainable Energy give up on plans to locate wind turbines there. Now, Next Era Energy wants to locate wind turbines in the township and local officials are looking for a fresh set of regulations that could allow that to happen.  … more

Consider the fact that the median starting annual salary of a petroleum engineer is nearly $100,000, while many fast food workers earn under $10 per hour. Is this because the oil and gas companies are simply more generous than McDonald’s? If wages were just set by employers, why would anyone make more than the minimum? … more

The P20 Pyramid project in Grand Rapids has been characterized as a "mystery project" due to the lack of details about it. But Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Gaines Township, says the story behind his effort to get state funding for the project is neither unusual nor mysterious. … more

The House and Senate are on a two-week spring break, but there are a number of recently introduced bills of interest. … more