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

Local municipalities saw an increase of $1.4 billion in property taxes from 2000 to 2013 as that revenue increased to $5.3 billion in 2013 from $3.9 billion in 2000, according to the state tax commission.  … more

Arguing about who should take the largest cuts is an essential part of bankruptcy. While relieving itself of debt burdens helps Detroit's fiscal situation, it is also insufficient at revitalizing the city. What is needed is competent administration of government services and fewer burdens on the city’s people and businesses. … more

Overall, Michigan school spending has increased significantly over the past few decades, but test score have stayed relatively flat, according to a new study from the Cato Institute. … more

Unions are given special privileges by statute — monopoly privileges that a private-sector business would pay an arm and a leg to get — and all the unions have to do in return is represent all employees in their bargaining unit equally. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation has stepped in to help workers who have been treated unfairly. … more

Grand Rapids city officials gave detailed information about a tax dispute involving the Acton Institute to a select reporter, but not to the nonprofit fighting to prove it is a charitable organization, according to documents received through a Freedom of Information Act request. … more

Using catchy sound bites like "give America a raise," President Obama ignores volumes of research showing that his demand to increase the minimum wage will be a jobs killer. Nevertheless, the president came to Michigan last week to campaign for doing just that. He also thought it necessary to insult a GOP budget proposal by calling it a "stink burger" and a "meanwich." … more