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Dems come out in support for UAW strikes, as Republicans criticize push for EVs
Following the expiration of contracts at midnight, state leaders and lawmakers on the state and national stage are weighing in as the United Auto Workers (UAW) union begins its historic strike on Michigan’s Detroit Three automakers. With support from other labor groups, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State […]
Michigan has made big strides on voting rights. Here’s what to expect next.
This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org Michigan has made strong progress in protecting voters’ rights and access to the ballot box in recent years, […]
Senate committee advances bill allowing farmers to rent land for solar arrays
Members of the Michigan Senate Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday voted to advance legislation that would allow farmers to rent out their land for solar energy generation while still participating in the state’s farmland and open space preservation program. Senate Bill 277, introduced by state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), would bring a […]
Man who threatened Whitmer, Benson and others pleads no contest
James Toepler, a 60-year-old Detroit resident, on Wednesday pleaded no contest to one count of malicious use of telecommunications services, for threatening to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and other unspecified lawmakers in a call to the Detroit Police Department 9-1-1 Call Center. According to a press release from Michigan Attorney […]
Labor leaders, lawmakers rally to repeal ‘Death Star’ bill tying local governments’ hands
Progress Michigan Executive Director Sam Inglot said the force was with workers, local government leaders and lawmakers on Wednesday as they rallied around bills that would repeal a ban on local project labor agreements (PLAs) and a law preempting local government control of labor and workforce policies — nicknamed the “Death Star” bill in an […]
Senate Dems introduce prescription drug oversight board bills following governor’s speech
Senate Democrats on Tuesday introduced another tool to combat high drug prices, seeking to fulfill another one of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fall priorities. State Sens. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) put forth a package of bills — Senate Bills 483, 484 and 485 — to create a Prescription […]
Senate confirms former MSU professor for additional term on Federal Reserve Board
Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, will serve an additional, full term after she was confirmed to fill an unexpired term on the board in 2022. Cook took office on May 23, 2022, to fill a term ending on Jan. 31, 2024. President […]
Sierra Club head Ben Jealous advocates in Michigan for clean energy tech production
Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, told the Michigan Advance during a visit to Detroit this week that passing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s climate package would be a game-changer for ensuring communities most impacted by climate change can benefit from federal investments. From the introduction of Senate Democrats’ “Clean Energy Future” plan in March […]
House GOP memo blasts Whitmer’s paid family leave proposal as ‘summer break for adults’
House Republican communications on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “What’s Next” address on Wednesday criticized the push for paid family leave alongside efforts to improve abortion access and transition the state to clean energy in a memo obtained by the Advance. In a list of message points dated Aug. 30, House Republicans pushed back against bills that […]
Public comment opens on proposals addressing DTE and Consumers Energy outages
After hundreds of thousands of Michiganders across the state were left without power due to severe weather last week, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is taking comments on proposed mechanisms to address energy reliability issues. The commission — which provides oversight for electrical utilities in Michigan — announced on Wednesday that it will seek […]
Michigan Public Service Commission approves settlement in Consumers Energy gas rates
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on Wednesday approved a settlement in a natural gas rate case for Consumers Energy, one of the state’s largest electric companies. According to the Department of the Attorney General, Consumers Energy provides electricity to approximately 1.9 million customers throughout Michigan and natural gas to 1.8 million customers across the […]
Whitmer centers health, energy, economy and democracy in ‘What’s Next’ address
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday outlined her policy priorities for the rest of the year, highlighting public health, clean energy, economic health and democracy in her “What’s Next” address prior to the Legislature returning from summer break. In January, Democrats took control of the Michigan House and Senate while retaining the governorship, holding a trifecta […]