Business + Labor
NFIB rejects Whitmer road-funding plan
The membership of one of the state’s leading small business advocacy groups is vigorously opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 45-cent gas tax increase aimed at fixing Michigan’s roads. The Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ (NFIB) rejection of the plan put it somewhat at odds with other business groups around the […]
MSU grad student union says new contract hurts foreign students
Michigan State University’s graduate student employee union is crying foul over the university’s rejection of its latest contract re-negotiation, which it says will negatively impact international employees. Members of the union filled an MSU building lobby Thursday to grade papers in protest of the latest contract and the university nixing several union proposals. Those would […]
Whitmer doesn’t rule out Enbridge tunnel plan
Speaking with reporters this week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not rule out ultimately supporting a plan from Canadian oil titan Enbridge to build a new buried pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Whitmer, along with Attorney General Dana Nessel, took action last week to stop construction plans for a planned new pipeline 100 feet beneath […]
Whitmer, GOP leaders spar, no closer on deal for road funding
Michigan’s Legislature may be enjoying its final week of spring break before budget season begins in earnest, but the challenge of funding Michigan’s infrastructure continues to loom large. State House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have each taken to the airwaves over the last few […]
Judge allows Flint water class-action lawsuit to proceed, adds Snyder back as defendant
A federal judge issued a court order Monday allowing a class-action lawsuit over the Flint water crisis to proceed and reinstated former Gov. Rick Snyder as a defendant. U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy said in Carthan v. Snyder that new evidence shows Snyder was aware of the health risks associated with drinking Flint River […]
Whitmer makes play for Georgia’s film industry, sans incentives
Updated 8:25 p.m. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is hoping to attract some of Georgia’s lucrative film industry as that state’s impending anti-abortion legislation has many in Hollywood threatening to take their work — and their money — elsewhere. That legislation, expected to be signed into law soon by Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, would outlaw […]
Audit: $175 million state HR system needs improvement
Updated, 3:20 p.m. with the State Budget Office’s comments. A new government audit shows that the Statewide Integrated Governmental Management Applications system used by almost 50,000 state employees — commonly known as SIGMA — needs improvements to its security and monitoring capacities. The State Budget Office (SBO) fully agreed with four out of the six […]
Rick Haglund: No evidence that Whitmer’s business tax hike will hurt jobs
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed a 6-percent income tax on small businesses in early March, business lobbying groups and Republican lawmakers slammed it faster than you can say “lost decade.” The Michigan Chamber of Commerce called the proposed tax “alarming” and “a disaster for small business owners and jobs.” The Small Business Association of Michigan […]
Ojeda is looking for ‘Real Democrats’ in Michigan — and across the country
Richard Ojeda is angry. Actually, he’s “pissed off,” and he thinks you should be, too. The retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator — as well as, for a fleeting moment, Democratic presidential candidate — is in Grand Rapids this week to headline the Democratic counter-programming to President Donald Trump’s rally Thursday. And […]
Shirkey ‘reviewing options’ after AG’s Line 5 opinion
Updated, 8:42 p.m., with Chatfield’s comments Republican leaders are considering their options — and some are vowing action — as Michigan’s attorney general and governor attempt to halt construction of a new Enbridge oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. On Thursday afternoon, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued her first opinion that a 2018 Lame […]
Nessel finds Lame Duck pipeline authority law unconstitutional
Updated, 8:38 p.m. with Enbridge’s comments. A law that created a new political body allowing Enbridge to go forward with plans to build a pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac is unconstitutional, Attorney General Dana Nessel argued in an opinion issued Thursday. The Democrat’s first legal opinion as attorney general argued that the content of […]
Brisbo to lead new Marijuana Regulatory Agency
The state official who led Michigan’s medical marijuana division will new head the state’s new Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA). Andrew Brisbo will direct the agency as it steers through a new era of legal recreational marijuana in Michigan as it rolls out separate regulations for medicinal pot. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her appointment of Brisbo […]