As the Michigan Legislature has a real discussion about how much money in special tax credits and subsidies it should be handing out, supporters of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation are defending its existence.
The entity has agreed to deals that return little to the state, though it argues that things have changed.
Staff at Gawker Media recently announced plans to unionize, launching speculation on the role of unions in today's economy.
F. Vincent Vernuccio contributed to the New York Times June 9 “Room for Debate” on the subject, arguing that the union will be most successful if it abandons traditional union practices and acts in a way that will reward creativity and individuality.
Gov. Scott Walker recently announced plans to reform the tenure system at public universities in Wisconsin, allowing tenured professors to be fired if budget cuts or other issues require it.
F. Vincent Vernuccio, director of labor policy at the Mackinac Center, joined Fox Business June 8 to discuss the changes and what they would mean for the University of Wisconsin.
The largest portion of the Michigan House Republican road funding plan earmarks a portion of state income tax revenue. This has been criticized as unfeasible because it allegedly relies on future revenue growth. The plan, however, is not contingent on revenue increases. Growth is expected, but the plan does not rely on it.
Recent numbers indicate the Pure Michigan campaign doesn't deliver the return on investment suggested by organizations like the MEDC -- in fact, Director of Fiscal Policy Michael D. LaFaive suggests the hotel and motel industry sees $0.01 of increased business for every $1.00 spent on Pure Michigan.
Last month, the Missouri General Assembly passed right-to-work legislation. Although Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill earlier in June, the General Assembly is poised for a possible override this fall to make Missouri the 26th right-to-work state in the union.
A joint study released earlier this year by the Mackinac Center and the Manhattan Institute discusses the problem of overcriminalization in Michigan. Michigan has more than 3,000 criminal statutes, making it difficult for the average citizen to know if their actions are illegal.
Michigan spends $1.5 billion per year on public universities, with most of the money coming out of the general fund. These funds are appropriated to the state’s 15 public universities in an arbitrary way, with huge disparities in the amount handed out per pupil.
By Jack McHugh
Senate Bill 133, Adopt state budget for next year: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate
The non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2015. This would appropriate $38.6 billion, compared to $37.3 billion this year. Of this, $17.4 billion comes from state tax and fee revenue (compared to $17.5 billion this year) and the rest is federal money. With education spending (next bill) this comes to $54.4 billion, up from $53.1 this year.
According to Bridge Magazine, some teacher accountability advocates are upset at a proposal to give school districts more control over how teachers are evaluated. The issue, reports Bridge writer Ron French, is that legislation put forward by Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair, would not impose statewide criteria for districts to use when evaluating teachers.
The Michigan Lodging and Tourism Industry Association has issued a statement disagreeing with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy over an argument that the center did not make. The association says it is responding to a new Mackinac Center analysis that finds government tourism promotion an ineffective use of taxpayers dollars.
Michigan House Republicans are advancing a road funding plan that partially relies on cutting $185 million in corporate welfare. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. oversees about $400 million – mostly going to select subsidies for businesses and industries – and does not want to see that cut.
Michigan has a flat income tax — where everyone pays the same rate (4.25 percent) — but there is a movement afoot to change that. One argument used by proponents of establishing a graduated income tax (different rates for different incomes) is that doing so would help alleviate income inequality. But the data doesn’t back this up.
Michiganders may soon have the opportunity to repeal the state's prevailing wage law, which mandates that government projects pay union wages to all laborers, regardless of market wages.
Jarrett Skorup recently debated the issue with Pat Johnston and answered listener questions on WSGW. The audio is available in three parts on his website.
F. Vincent Vernuccio's new Worker's Choice study was featured in the June 1 edition of the Washington Examiner and the June 5 edition of The Detroit News.
Vernuccio was also a guest on the Frank Beckmann Show June 2.
The study offers a solution to the free/forced rider issue that exists in right-to-work states: Current law requires unions to represent all workers in a bargaining unit — even those who have left the union.
The Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association says promotional spending, using Michigan tax dollars, results in large returns on investment, but Mackinac Center research suggests the opposite.
Fiscal Policy Director Michael LaFaive joined Michael Patrick Shiels on Michigan's Big Show to discuss and explain the vast difference in figures.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year to attract business investment in Michigan, but studies show the benefits don't justify the costs.
Last week, Mackinac Center President Joe Lehman spoke at the Mackinac Policy Conference showing how the money going to MEDC would be better spent on roads.
In March 2015, Corey LaValley Jr., 10, and Emma McComber, 13, and their mother were shot dead, and then their bodies burned in a house fire. William McComber, the father of Emma, says he suspects Corey Lee LaValley, the father of Corey Jr., killed the family.
In September 2013, Susan Bank wanted to leave the MEA, but was told she had missed her opportunity for the year. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed suit on her behalf, to challenge not only the legality of an opt-out period, but to determine whether the union had the responsibility to inform her of that period.
One might live a lifetime without witnessing a political trouncing like the one voters delivered to Proposal 1 on May 5. The complex measure to annually devote $1.2 billion more for roads by raising taxes $2 billion didn’t just fail, it was vaporized in an historic 20-80 rout.
By Jack McHugh
Now with one click you can approve or disapprove of key votes by your legislators using the VoteSpotter smart phone app. Visit Votespotter.com and download VoteSpotter today!
House Bill 4467, Allow more dangerous prisoners at Baldwin private prison: Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate
Government spending on tourism — including the popular “Pure Michigan” commercials — do not create net new jobs for the Great Lake State. The taxpayer resources spent on tourism marketing should be redirected elsewhere, such as to repairing Michigan’s roads or cutting the personal income tax.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce last week released top-line results of a jointly commissioned poll by Mitchell Research of 600 likely voters on the subject of Michigan’s film incentive program. This program gives subsidies to people who produce movies in our state, like the upcoming Batman v Superman.
As Michigan lawmakers consider putting greater restrictions on the practice of civil asset forfeiture, Mackinac Center Policy Analyst Jarrett Skorup joined Bill Gilmer to discuss the matter on WPHM in Port Huron.
You can listen by clicking below.
The Michigan House Judiciary committee has passed a package of bills that would reform Michigan’s civil asset forfeiture laws. Currently, law enforcement officials are able to seize private property from residents and give it to government agencies even if no one is convicted of a crime.
