Jarrett Skorup, Research Associate [Mackinac Center]

Jarrett Skorup is a research associate at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is a graduate of Grove City College with degrees in history and political science. He also studied economics and religion.

While there, he was captain of the Grove City wrestling and Ultimate Frisbee teams. He was a student fellow at the Center for Vision & Values, the school's research and scholarship think tank.

An Illinois native, Skorup is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls. Besides studying and writing about public policy, he coaches and officiates high school wrestling.

Skorup is the content manager for Michigan Capitol Confidential. His writings have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, MLive, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Orange County Register, Manchester Union-Leader, Daily Caller, Townhall.com, National Review , America's Future Foundation - Doublethink and many newspapers across the country. He lives in Midland, MI with his wife, Karen and son, Grayson.

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Michigan Votes: Bill Would Lessen Mandates on Landscape Architects

Published on May 25, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Oakland Schools and the Tri-County Alliance

Focused on more money, less parental choice. … more

Posted on May 23, 2013 at 9:10am

Head Start a False Start

Follow the research to help low-income students … more

Posted on May 21, 2013 at 10:49am

Movie Made in Israel Gets Michigan Tax Dollars

Posted on May 17, 2013 at 11:25am

Michigan Tea Party Group Says It Is A Victim of IRS Discrimination

Published on May 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Everyone Loves Tax Cuts

Published on May 10, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

SEIU Tries to Continue Dues Scheme

Leaked document maps out 'dues skim' plan. … more

Posted on May 6, 2013 at 11:15am

MichiganVotes: Proposed Bill Would Provide Accountability For Land Banks

Published on May 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Oregon Study Suggests Michigan Medicaid Expansion Not Worth the Cost

Published on May 3, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Why Film Subsidies Must Go

Independent studies show Hollywood corporate welfare a bust. … more

Posted on May 1, 2013 at 8:10am

Michigan's Craziest Laws: Don't Seduce An Unmarried Woman or Dance to the National Anthem

Published on April 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

House Budget Puts Roads Above Film Subsidies

But some Republicans want to protect corporate welfare. … more

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 1:55pm

Despite Repeal Attempts, Michigan State Law Mandates Unlicensed Dogs Be Killed

Published on April 25, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Public School Lobbying Worse Than 'Skunk Works'

Concerns about "backroom dealings" insincere. … more

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 1:20pm

Time to Overhaul Auto Insurance Laws

New proposal worth consideration. … more

Posted on April 22, 2013 at 1:45pm

How Taxpayers Are Funding Political Lobbying

Published on April 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Expert: Medicaid Expansion Means Increased Costs For Worse Service

Published on April 19, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Subsidies Drive Up College Costs

State should decrease subsidies, force schools to compete. … more

Posted on April 12, 2013 at 2:05pm

Despite Lack Of Jobs and Repeated Broken Promises, Legislature Proposes Extension Of Corporate Welfare Program

Published on April 6, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Facts On Right-to-Work In Michigan and How Workers Can Get Out Of Their Union

Published on April 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Entrepreneur Survey Ranks Michigan Among the Worst In the Nation For Small Businesses

Published on April 3, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Higher Scrutiny of Government 'Investments'

Mascoma pulls IPO, questionable subsidies remain. … more

Posted on March 28, 2013 at 1:20pm

Five Reasons Government Subsidies For Films Are A Bad Idea

Published on March 27, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Rushes Contract To Avoid Right-to-Work; 'Put This Whole Nightmare Behind Us!'

Published on March 25, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Airport Home To No Planes Or Hangars Receives Over $150K A Year In Tax Dollars

Published on March 19, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Media Ignores Costs In Film Coverage

Lawmakers exchange bad policy for Hollywood glitz. … more

Posted on March 11, 2013 at 2:01pm

Michigan Taxpayers Already Paid for 'Oz'

Disney gets $40 million subsidy; has $4.8 billion profit. … more

Posted on March 7, 2013 at 11:30am

Five Reasons the Government Shouldn’t Subsidize Higher Education

Published on March 4, 2013 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Legislators Chip Away at Proposal A Property Tax Limits

Published on March 2, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Big Business Supports Minimum Wage Hikes

Lobbying intended to hurt mom-and-pop competitors. … more

Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:20am

Union Time on Your Dime

Taxpayers still funding union work on school time. … more

Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:15am

College Subsidies Redistribute from Poor to Rich

Graduation rates unchanged despite increased aid. … more

Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:55am

The Facts on Subsidized College Degrees

More government spending equals higher costs. … more

Posted on February 20, 2013 at 9:35am

Road Funding or Film Subsidies?

GOP legislators have hard time prioritizing. … more

Posted on February 15, 2013 at 2:50pm

LG Chem: A Look Back At the Failed Predictions

Published on Feb. 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

More Is Never Enough

When it comes to public school funding. … more

Posted on February 13, 2013 at 1:45pm

Five Reasons The Government Shouldn’t Subsidize Higher Education

Published on Feb. 13, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

UAW Prez: SEIU ‘Dues Skim’ More Important Than RTW

A candid interview reveals stealth unionizations were key. … more

Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:35pm

Media's Assumption About Government Spending

Cuts are always bad, more spending is always good. … more

Posted on February 7, 2013 at 11:50am

Robots Are Good

Productivity and efficiency bring prosperity. … more

Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:52am

SEIU Dues Skim Surpasses $34 Million

Scheme comes to an end Feb. 28; legal challenges continue. … more

Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:55pm

Unions Fight to Use Dues for Politics

Not all the money goes toward collective bargaining. … more

Posted on January 31, 2013 at 2:50pm

More Preschool Spending Not The Answer

Published on Jan. 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Right-to-Work Law Means Less Money For Union Political Power Grabs

Published on Jan. 24, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Media Skews Charter Public School Study

Reporters ignore large student gains. … more

Posted on January 16, 2013 at 8:10am

New Study Shows Better Results For Public Charter School Students Compared To Students In Conventional Schools

Published on Jan. 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government Is Different From Unions

The fallacy of a 'right-to-live' law. … more

Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:50am

The Public Employee Union Problem

Published on Jan. 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Right-to-Work Gives Teachers a Choice

Association of American Educators offers an option. … more

Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:20am

Right-to-Work Laws Are Not Inspired By Hitler

Published on Dec. 28, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

How Will Michigan House Members Confront ‘Fiscal Cliff’?

Published on Dec. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Terrible Track Record

Government's "green" venture caplitalism experiment a failure. … more

Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:55am

'We'll Be At Your Daughter's Soccer Game!'

Published on Dec. 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Steward Paid $100K By Taxpayers Attends Rally Advocating Against Them

Union steward compares right-to-work bill with Hitler. … more

Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:27am

Easy Rider

The data doesn't always tell the story on motorcycle crashes. … more

Posted on December 12, 2012 at 12:40pm

School Districts Closed Because Of Excessive Teacher Absences Over Right-to-Work

Published on Dec. 11, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

The Intellectual Firepower Against Right-to-Work

Who's who on right-to-work. … more

Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:13pm

Taxpayer-Funded Stadiums a Lose-Lose Proposition

If Ilitch wants new home for Red Wings, he should pay for it. … more

Posted on December 10, 2012 at 11:01am

The Union ‘Free-Rider Problem’ Myth in Right-to-Work Debate

Published on Dec. 10, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

The Human Side of Right-to-Work Legislation

Real people who have been hurt by forced unionization. … more

Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:10pm

Governor: Bill Will Be Introduced To Make Michigan 24th Right-To-Work State

Published on Dec. 6, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Still Worse Economically Than RTW Oklahoma

Michigan Education Association props up faulty numbers. … more

Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:05pm

The 'Pro Big Business' Myth Put to Rest

Center a lone voice against corporate welfare for 25 years. … more

Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:45pm

Another Look at Hydraulic Fracturing

State should embrace safe, inexpensive energy source. … more

Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:25am

Right-to-Work Law Would Help Ensure Government Unions Could Not Elect Their Own Bosses

Published on Dec. 3, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Less Than 1 Percent of Michigan Teachers Rated 'Ineffective'

Published on Dec. 1, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Misleads on Oklahoma Right-to-Work Numbers

An honest discussion will require honest numbers. … more

Posted on November 30, 2012 at 10:10am

Vague University Policies Punish Students For Jokes, 'Obnoxious' Comments, 'Insulting' Phone Calls or Texts

Published on Nov. 23, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Unions, Government Entities Team Up to Keep Information From Citizens

Published on Nov. 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Despite Rampant Tenure Abuses, Proposal 2 Would Wipe Out Slight Reform

Published on Nov. 2, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Proposal 2 Is Not Good For Government Union Workers

Published on Oct. 30, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Prop 4 Not About Home Care

It's about the SEIU taking money from vulnerable residents. … more

Posted on October 29, 2012 at 12:20pm

Prop 2 Supporters Putting Out Questionable Info

Campaign of misinformation exposed by Center analysts. … more

Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:45am

Prop 3 Can't Change the Laws of Economics

No matter how badly supporters want to think it can. … more

Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:42am

Secret Democrat Supreme Court Plan: Run Irish Women Candidates

Published on Oct. 23, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Proposal 2 Is Not Simply About Collective Bargaining

Prop 2 ballot language underlines political agenda. … more

Posted on October 22, 2012 at 9:28am

Prop 4 Op-Ed in Detroit Free Press Ungrounded

Platitudes, falsities and "faux outrage." … more

Posted on October 19, 2012 at 2:47pm

Another One: Stimulus-Backed Battery Company Workers With No Work To Do — Playing Cards, Watching Movies, Reading Magazines

LG Chem workers "have nothing to do." … more

Published on Oct. 19, 2012

Dead Batteries

LG Chem workers "have nothing to do." … more

Posted on October 19, 2012 at 9:30am

Father Taking Care of His Disabled Adult Kids Called An 'Idiot' by Proposal 4 Spokesman

Published on Oct. 18, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

A123 Files for Bankruptcy

Yet another failure of central planning. … more

Posted on October 16, 2012 at 12:05pm

Schools Create Their Own FOIA Interpretation

Prop 2 would make government even less transparent. … more

Posted on October 11, 2012 at 12:20pm

Prop 2 Would Change at Least 170 Laws

Big labor trying to make a difference without distinction. … more

Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:55am

Renewable Energy Mandate Backers Have Deep 'Green' Pockets

Published on Oct. 11, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Prop 2 Supporters Say States Without Unionized Teachers ‘Among the Worst’ On Standardized Tests — Michigan Scores Lower Than Them All

Published on Oct. 9, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEDC Removes Video of Obama, Top Dems Praising Failed Battery Company

A123 had been touted by President Obama, Gov. Granholm. … more

Posted on October 8, 2012 at 1:50pm

NEA Recognizes Need for STEM Teachers

But won't budge on salary flexibility. … more

Posted on October 3, 2012 at 2:35pm

Sticky Data in Item Pricing 'Study'

Michigan Citizen Action opposes technology, productivity. … more

Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:59am

Is the Horseshoer on Strike?

Detroit union goes on strike; ignores $6 billion debt. … more

Posted on October 1, 2012 at 11:40am

Proposal 2 Could Protect Teachers Who Are Drunk, Dealing Drugs In the Classroom

Published on Oct. 1, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State, Nation Have a Long Way to Go

Two new reports detail economic ranking of Michigan, U.S. … more

Posted on September 25, 2012 at 10:09am

Do Prop 4 Supporters Know What It's About?

Disability advocate appears confused on ballot measure. … more

Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:02am

Which Ballot Proposals Are 'Grassroots'?

A look at who is behind the Nov. 6 ballot proposals. … more

Posted on September 17, 2012 at 5:03pm

Economic Development a Campaign Tool

Subsidies help politicians look like they're "doing something." … more

Posted on September 14, 2012 at 4:35pm

The Greatest Man You’ve Never Heard Of: Norman Borlaug, An American Hero

Published on Sept. 12, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

What the ‘Protect Our Jobs’ Amendment Would Mean For Michigan

Published on Sept. 10, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

SEIU Dues Skim All About Politics

SEIU president reveals political agenda at DNC convention. … more

Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:15am

State Spends $42.8 Million on Disability Payments, Recipients' Afflictions Unknown

Published on Aug. 30, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

SEIU Ballot Language Disconnected From Reality

Line-by-line look at the ballot proposal. … more

Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:14am

No Horses, But Detroit Water Department Employs 'Horseshoer'

Published on Aug. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential