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The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is pleased to host monthly Issues & Ideas Luncheons in Lansing. These luncheons, which feature experts on a diverse array of subjects, offer a forum that enhances and broadens the policy debate to include theoretical and philosophical ideals—and suggestions for achieving them.
News media, legislators, policy staff and interested citizens are cordially invited to the
Dr. Kirk Johnson
Senior Policy Analyst
The Heritage Foundation
DATE:
Thursday, April 21, 2005
TIME:
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
The Mackinac Room, 5th Floor
House Office Building
124 North Capitol, LansingCOST:
Lunch is provided at no charge,
with reservation.
Teacher health insurance costs are rising much faster than public school funding, causing districts to seek alternatives to union-affiliated plans that charge more than $15,000 annually per employee. The legislature has commissioned the Hay Group, a human resources consulting firm, to perform a $290,000 study due in mid-July on the potential for savings on school and community college health benefits. Dr. Kirk Johnson, the author of an upcoming Mackinac Center study, has analyzed U.S. Census Bureau and Michigan school district data to gain a better understanding of the true costs of school health insurance and the options available to control them.
Dr. Johnson is a senior policy analyst with the Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis in Washington. He was formerly the Mackinac Center's director of education policy, where he co-authored “The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts.” Dr. Johnson has worked at the U.S. Census Bureau, George Mason University, the University of North Texas, and taught economics at a college in Fort Worth, Texas. His research has been featured in a host of publications across the nation, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Investor's Business Daily, and The Detroit News. His Ph.D. is in Public Policy from George Mason University.
The luncheon begins promptly at noon. Please make reservations for yourself or your guests by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18 by calling the Mackinac Center at (989) 631‑0900.
The Purpose of the Issues & Ideas Luncheon
The nature of the legislative process is such that public policy debates are often framed by specific constituencies and political pragmatism rather than by sound principles. By offering a forum for wide-ranging discussion, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy hopes to broaden the debate to include theoretical and philosophical ideals — and how to achieve them. The best interests of Michigan citizens can be served only when legislation incorporates our best understanding of legal, economic, psychological, moral and scientific principles.
