Michigan Capitol Confidential

Stabenow should set aside, not donate, FTX funds

Stabenow says she will donate donations from Samuel Bankman-Fried to a local charity. They should instead be set aside for victims Read more

Will Whitmer sign bill to let patient advocates visit nursing homes?

Senate bill 450 would prevent the isolation of 2020 by outlawing executive orders that keep family members, advocates out Read more

Survey of parents, alumni, allowed multiple votes on question of removing Ben Carson’s name from a Detroit high school

There were no safeguards to stop people from taking the survey more than once, district admits Read more

Only 14% of Michigan residents are up-to-date on COVID booster shot

‘Lack of trust’ cited as 85% of Michiganders go against official public health guidance Read more

Stabenow took nearly $56K of donations from FTX, then took lead role on crypto bill

Samuel Bankman-Fried, owner of bankrupt firm FTX, met with lawmakers regularly. Critics say bill he pushed would kill decentralized finance Read more

MSU employees who object to vaccine mandate present case to U.S. Court of Appeals

Three employees faced discipline for refusing a COVID shot Read more

Washington Wednesday: Bipartisan coalition calls for banning Tik Tok

Two Michigan representatives, Bergman and McClain, have introduced bills challenging popular video platform Read more

In Michigan town that banned short-term rentals, few filed complaints

Park Township bans short-term rentals for peace and quiet, but lack of complaints show there was never a problem Read more

Michigan bill demands 100% transition to green energy by 2035

Renewables only account for 11% of Michigan’s energy today, so how could they make up the rest by 2035? Read more

There are no free rides — Michigan taxpayers will subsidize the QLine through 2039

Republicans helped pass a subsidy for a train that has a fraction of the ridership it would need to sustain itself Read more

FOIA exemptions for Michigan governor, lawmakers breed distrust

Transparency demands that FOIA apply to the governor and the legislature Read more

Pork Friday: Lawmakers give grants but are unwilling to explain them

Elected officials, grant recipients, are silent on the taxpayer funds. Read more

McClain, Moolenaar sign letter pressing Biden to end COVID-19 emergency

Nearly two dozen reps sign the letter, which calls Biden’s use of emergency powers “akin to dictatorship” Read more

Michigan teachers unions continue to shed members

Latest filings show that MEA has lost 1,000 members since last year Read more

Then and now, polling on right-to-work in Michigan shows it is popular

A dozen polls over 20 years, and almost all show broad support for the law Read more

In 2012, Michigan voters rejected a ban on right-to-work

Nearly 60% of Michigan voters rejected the attempted constitutional amendment, and Gov. Snyder signed the right-to-work law a month later Read more

Survey says: 60% of Michigan residents support right-to-work law, only 17% oppose it

In union households, support is 55% to 28% Read more

Park Township joins list of Michigan towns banning short-term rentals

Ordinance enforcement will take effect Oct. 1, 2023, after 48 years on the books Read more

Michigan bill mirrors Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law

Age-appropriate sex ed for students in grades K-3 is the goal of House Bill 6503 Read more

Proposed Michigan court rules would hurt renters in the long run

Landlords warn of ‘voluntary payment system;’ eviction diversion prolongs the inevitable Read more

Where is your money being spent? Michigan government won’t always say

Lansing spends large amounts of money in an opaque way Read more

Pork Friday: Michigan lawmakers gave $300K to a Little League organization

A California nonprofit raked in $950K; a Detroit boxing gym got $500K Read more

Biden touts unions at nonunion factory in Bay City

SK Siltron in Bay City is not staffed by union labor; Michigan unions down 140K members since 2012 Read more

Michigan job numbers don’t reflect Whitmer’s hype

25 states have recovered from pandemic job losses — but not Michigan Read more

John James cautions against China dependency, arbitrary deadlines in transition to EVs

EVs mean a slimmed down auto industry; James says government should not force transition Read more