![[Photo of Jarrett Skorup]](/media/images/2016/sizes/150x200/Skorup_med.png)
Jarrett Skorup
Director of Marketing and Communications
Jarrett Skorup is the director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. In this role, he is in charge of marketing efforts, media strategy, and overseeing policy campaigns and objectives. He has worked in a variety of roles at the center since 2009.
Skorup 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 college's wrestling and Ultimate Frisbee teams.
His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, National Public Radio, MLive, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and many newspapers across the country.
A native of Sandwich, Illinois, Skorup is an avid Chicago sports fan. He also officiates high school wrestling and enjoys fishing and woodworking. In his free time, Skorup volunteers with his church, serves on committees with the local Chamber of Commerce, and works in the schools through Junior Achievement.
He lives in Midland, MI with his wife, Karen, and children Grayson, Reagan and Theodora.
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From Jarrett Skorup
Free-Range Michigan?
New Utah law recognizes independence for parents and children … more
More Competition Among Liquor Stores on the Way – For Now
Judge upholds ruling that gets rid of arbitrary 'half-mile rule' … more
Arbitrary Michigan Licensing Laws: Auto Mechanic vs. Makeup Artist
Esthetician requires far more mandatory hours and much higher fees … more
How a Top-Performing Charter School in Detroit Overcame Government Obstacles
New video tells the story of Detroit Prep … more
Where Michigan Lawmakers Stand on ‘Right to Try’ Laws
Allowing terminally ill Americans the ability to try experimental medicine … more
Democratic Attorney General Candidates Favor Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Bipartisan support for protecting property rights and due process … more
Want Money For Roads? Take It from This Failing Program
Michigan Business Development Program funding should end … more
Salt Bill Would Raises Prices On All To Benefit One Company
Senate Bill 363 is held up in the Michigan House … more
ACLU and Mackinac Center Call on Legislature to Require a Conviction Before Police Can Keep Property
Report shows forfeiture in Michigan typically involves small amounts of money, property taken from people never convicted of a crime … more
Meet Some Law Enforcement Officers Who Support Forfeiture Reform
Michigan Legislature should strengthen property rights … more
Airbnb Ban the Latest in Detroit’s Short-sighted Thinking
City council makes it harder to earn a living and visit a city desperate for population growth … more
Illinois Takes Pension Advice From ‘The Simpsons’
Michigan has done a lot to avoid this fate … more
Traverse City Continuing Push for Government-Run Internet
Similar efforts have failed in city after city … more
Michigan Considers Allowing Ex-Offenders to Work as Health Professionals
A step in the right direction on licensing … more
Gov. Snyder Should Make Link Between Jobs and Criminal Justice Reform
Tonight’s State of the State will certainly focus on jobs — but shouldn’t ignore criminal justice reform … more
Michigan’s Most Popular Uber Destination is in the City That Once Banned It
Ann Arbor overregulated ridesharing until state lawmakers freed it … more
How to Help Those with a Criminal Record Find Work
Eliminate unnecessary crimes, right-size punishments and repeal licensing laws … more
Michigan’s Prevailing Wage Law Drives Up Costs
Government should do fair bidding for projects … more
Detroit Ignores State Law, Turns Down Money to Avoid Selling Abandoned School
Detroit Public Schools Community District enforces deed restriction against charter … more
State Reforms of Occupational Licensing
New report from Cato highlights Michigan work … more
Productive Skills, Not College Degrees, Key to Economic Prosperity
A critique of ‘talent mercantilism’ … more
Ex-Con Working as Nurse Gets Denied License When Moving to Michigan
Great Lakes State has some of the most stringent laws in the nation … more
Assessing Michigan’s Alleged Teacher Shortage
Over 100,000 qualified teachers are not employed by a public school … more
How to Regulate Vacation Rentals in Michigan
And why property rights need to be secured … more
How Right-to-Work and the End of the 'Dues Skim' Killed the SEIU in Michigan
Membership, revenue and political spending plummet for SEIU Healthcare-Michigan … more
Michigan Was Right to End Film Incentives
New report backs up legislators … more
Let Them Fill Growlers
Mackinac Center testimony on beer freedom … more
Skilled Trades Teachers Don’t Need a College Degree
Why doesn’t the principals’ association trust its members? … more
How to Encourage Local Internet Development
Cities should encourage broadband without owning it … more
Local Governments Are Not in Debt Because of Less Revenue Sharing
It's time to address unfunded liabilities … more
City Claims It Will Cut Almost Everything Without a ‘Needed’ Tax Hike
But Fraser has a spending problem it should address first … more
When Firefighters Aren’t Allowed to Fight Fires
Licensing rules prevent ex-convicts from contributing productively to society … more
Unions Admit Forcing People to Pay Dues is Political
U.S. Supreme Court considers right-to-work for all … more
Legislature Looking to Streamline Internet Services
Bills would limit fees and ban government-owned networks … more
Mackinac Center FOIA Lawsuit with University of Michigan Receives Wide Coverage
Here’s how the Legislature can solve the problem going forward … more
How to Strike a Balance on Short-Term Rentals
Cities should enforce existing regulations, not ban rentals all together … more
Consumers Don’t Need a Law to Limit Competition
Get rid of the ‘half mile’ rule for selling alcohol … more
Short-Term Rentals Are Good for Michigan
State should stop municipalities from cracking down on homesharing … more
More State Oversight Needed for Government Assistance Programs
Michigan should adopt best practices for welfare, WIC programs … more
It’s Time to Allow Direct Vehicle Sales
You can’t buy a Tesla or a Fido in Michigan … more
Arbitrary Licensing Requirements Should be Scrapped
Unemployment is a leading indicator for recidivism … more
How a Private Arts Festival Thrives
ArtPrize is in its ninth year … more
Legislature Takes Aim at Rolling Back Harmful Licensing Laws
These proposals would free up citizens to work, earn money … more
Flatten the Tax Code
Select tax breaks aren’t the answer to our tax problems … more
The Key Barriers Promoting Inequality
Some agreement between the left and the right … more
Unions Try to Kill a Private Trade School
But Greater Michigan Construction Academy is a success … more
Trump Labor Secretary Joins Bipartisan Call for Licensure Reform
Obama administration also wanted changes … more
As Feds Expand Forfeiture, Michigan Looks to Restrict It
Preserving property rights is essential … more
A Solution to Local Government Debt
Pension and retiree health care liabilities are in crisis and the time to act is now … more
Why Does Michigan License Painters?
Few other states do … more
Traverse City Should Avoid Risky Public Internet
Most municipal broadband projects losing money … more
Skorup Speaks on ‘Good Jobs’ Proposal Before Michigan House Committee
These bills provide more opportunities for some by taking from the many. … more
Why Michigan Has a Pension Problem
Everyone wants to avoid responsibilities on retiree benefits … more
Let People Rent Out Their Property
New bills would let homeowners use Airbnb, other services … more
Michigan Congressmen Introduce Bipartisan Licensing Bill
Sen. Peters, Rep. Walberg working together to remove needless barriers to employment … more
‘Fact Check’ on Higher Education Piece Falls Flat
State aid for colleges still wasteful … more
It’s Time for Michigan to End Civil Forfeiture
The state takes at least $20 million a year from Michiganders … more
Michigan’s Public Pensions Are at Risk
Office of Retirement Services must explain appearance of poor management … more
Don’t Bring Back Granholm’s Tax Credit Legacy
Legislators are considering it … more
Michigan’s Regulatory Laws Lead to Fewer Jobs, More Crime
Licensing rules are a criminal justice issue … more
Michigan Should Reject Special Corporate Developer Bills
Senate bills 111-115 being considered … more
License to (Not) Work: Mackinac Center Releases New Study on Occupational Licensing
Assessing the impact of arbitrary licensing laws on the Michigan economy … more
This Isn’t Working: How Michigan’s Licensing Laws Hurt Workers and Consumers
Click here for a PDF of the full study.
The Declaration of Independence lists the “pursuit of happiness” as one of Americans’ “unalienable rights.” For most, this includes the ability to pursue a vocation of their choice. But occupational licensure laws stand in the way of many people trying to exercise this right. For too many people, the right to pursue their dreams has been halted by governments that require them to jump through hoops, pay fees and meet other often arbitrary and inconsistent requirements.
This report gathers data on every occupational license in Michigan. It describes the impact and costs of licensure laws, as documented in the empirical research that has been conducted on this issue. It explains how and why licensing requirements are typically created, but also outlines some of the fundamental problems with a broad licensing regime. Finally, it compares Michigan’s licensing requirements to those of other states and makes recommendations for how the state could reform occupational licensure for the benefit of job-seekers and entrepreneurs and for the state’s economy as a whole. … more
The Declaration of Independence lists the “pursuit of happiness” as one of Americans’ “unalienable rights.” For most, this includes the ability to pursue a vocation of their choice. But occupational licensure laws stand in the way of many people trying to exercise this right. For too many people, the right to pursue their dreams has been halted by governments that require them to jump through hoops, pay fees and meet other often arbitrary and inconsistent requirements.
This report gathers data on every occupational license in Michigan. It describes the impact and costs of licensure laws, as documented in the empirical research that has been conducted on this issue. It explains how and why licensing requirements are typically created, but also outlines some of the fundamental problems with a broad licensing regime. Finally, it compares Michigan’s licensing requirements to those of other states and makes recommendations for how the state could reform occupational licensure for the benefit of job-seekers and entrepreneurs and for the state’s economy as a whole. … more
How We Use FOIA to Hold Government Accountable
Happy ‘Sunshine Week’ 2017 … more
Justice Clarence Thomas Takes a Broadside at Civil Forfeiture
Forfeiture is a big issue in Michigan … more
More Transparency on the Way in Michigan
Bills would subject legislators, governor to FOIA and require salaries be made public … more
Union Behind Michigan ‘Dues Skim’ Facing More Corruption Allegations
SEIU Healthcare Michigan has a history of problems … more
Michigan Legislators Don’t Receive Pensions
Now let’s solve the problem for the rest of government workers … more
Michigan Education Association Losing Members, Increasing Debt
Union named one of five most ‘financially precarious’ … more
To Boost Jobs in Detroit, Cut Regulations
Why the Motor City has so few plumbers … more
Pushing Back Against Government Takings
New bill would provide remedy for property violations … more
House Republican Policy Plan Lays the Groundwork for Action
Pensions, education, criminal justice all areas ripe for change … more
Why Michigan Licensing Laws Are So Destructive
Everything you need to know about occupational regulations in the Great Lakes State … more
School Hosts Advocacy Session for Tax Hike in Front of Students
Politicking on the taxpayer dime … more
