Commentary – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government as Santa

Michigan Lawmakers Approve $1 Billion in New Corporate Subsidies

Their votes can be seen and tracked on a business subsidy scorecard Read more

A Bad Look For A County Health Department

Science is politics, policy is spin, ignorance is useful Read more

Masks in School and Misplaced Priorities

Children are more at risk from fatal accidents than from COVID-19 Read more

Governments Light Up Cigarette Smuggling

A tax hike will make cigarette smuggling even more lucrative Read more

Clearing Up the Record on Michigan Charter Schools

A Response to Misguided Claims in The New Yorker Read more

Governor’s Pandemic Response Was Rarely Backed by Science

Bad Information About the Prevailing Wage Abounds

Lawmakers should be skeptical of a recent study Read more

A Bizarre Media Hit Piece on Airbnb

MLive implies service was complicit in shooting at short-term rental Read more

Metrics for Michigan: Slow Rolling to Normal

Governor’s plan may mean restrictions last far longer than those in other states Read more

Is ‘Vacc to Normal’ Back to Normal?

Gov. Whitmer has not indicated whether she’ll give up unilateral control Read more

Hold Political Opinionmakers Accountable for Fabricated Evidence

Details and evidence are often glossed over Read more

Holland Restaurant Owner Arrested Over COVID Orders

Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria has operated at near capacity despite lockdown mandates Read more

Transparency Laws are Designed to Keep the Government Accountable. But do They?

Government has repeatedly resisted the openness requested by the people Read more

Dodgy Metrics, No Real Accountability At Tax-Funded Tourism Marketing Program

Agency may have good reason to prefer Pure Michigan’s fluff to real transparency Read more

Michigan’s Right-to-Work Law Led to Huge Drop in Union Membership

For the first time in decades, state falls outside of the top 10 nationally in unionization Read more

Biden Blowout: Spending Bill Unnecessary and Harmful

State lawmakers must act to minimize waste Read more

Indefinite Emergency Powers Are Unconstitutional

U-M law professor makes flawed case to overturn recent Supreme Court decision Read more

Money for Nothing: Most Federal COVID Relief Went to Closed Classrooms

Districts raking in most CARES funds denied students in-person learning Read more

Texas Energy Crisis a Warning for Michigan

New generation facilities should be reliable Read more

A Timeline of Inconsistency

Data don’t justify the governor’s continued restrictions on gatherings Read more

No Proof ‘Pause’ Worked

U-M study exaggerates its own findings Read more

All That is Not Permitted is Prohibited

Gov. Whitmer’s strict approach makes well-meaning Michiganders into criminals Read more

Pandemic Response Boosts Michigan Budget

Large increases in state spending due to federal transfers Read more

Gov. Whitmer’s Switcheroo on Schools

Do the COVID metrics matter anymore? Read more