Business + Labor
Report: Michigan should stop treating transit as a ‘social welfare program’
Michigan needs to rethink its approach to public transit, treating it as a “public utility” rather than as a “social welfare program.” That’s according to a new report from the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan (CRC) a Livonia-based public policy organization that was released last week during the Michigan Municipal League’s (MML) annual conference […]
Dem SuperPAC spending $50M in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania
American Bridge, a Democratic SuperPAC that’s chaired by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, has her old stomping grounds in its 2020 sights with a big ad buy in the Upper Midwest. That’s the group that released the infamous video of 2018 Michigan gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette telling a TV reporter, “I will do anything you want.” […]
Does Whitmer’s roads plan raise $2.5B or $1.9B? Here’s why it matters.
Most people don’t dispute that Michigan has some of the worst roads in the nation, but politicians are still squabbling over how to fix them. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new road-funding proposal that hikes the gas tax 45 cents hasn’t exactly received a warm welcome from many motorists or the Republican-controlled Legislature. While politicians have been […]
Detroit Chamber backs Whitmer’s gas tax hike
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s roads tax plan got a warm reception last week at a Detroit Regional Chamber luncheon and now the group is making it official. The chamber on Wednesday said it’s endorsing Whitmer’s plan to hike the gas tax 45 cents starting Oct. 1 to raise $2.5 billion to fix Michigan’s roads. The governor […]
Nessel joins fellow AGs in backing payday lender regulations
Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 23 states and the District of Columbia in urging the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to finalize regulations for payday lenders. In signing the letter with almost half of the country’s state attorneys general, Nessel said she aims to protect consumers in Michigan from falling victim to payday […]
Low-wage working households on the rise in Michigan
The Great Recession may be over, but its impact continues to linger in Michigan, especially for those at or near the bottom of the economic ladder. The Michigan Association of United Ways on Wednesday released a report examining “ALICE” households, an acronym that refers to those that are “Asset limited, income restrained [and] employed.” That […]
6 Republicans vote against naming highway for Aretha Franklin
The state House on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to name a portion of M-10 in Detroit the Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway in honor of the Detroit musical legend. House Bill 4060, sponsored by state Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit), passed 101-6. All of the “no” votes were from Republicans Reps.: Steven Johnson (R-Wayland), Shane Hernandez (R-Port Huron), […]
Dingell introduces bill requiring warning label for children’s cosmetics
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) is at least the second member of Michigan’s congressional delegation to speak out about asbestos being detected in children’s cosmetics. Dingell, along with fellow U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), introduced on Monday House Resolution 1816 to mandate that all cosmetics marketed to children at least bear a warning label. The […]
O’Rourke: Shrinking middle class tied to attacks on unions
Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke barnstormed through Southeast Michigan on Monday, making a play for union workers who could be decisive in both the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and the general election. “When I talked about this economy that has the greatest level of wealth and income inequality of our lifetimes, [that’s] totally correlated with […]
Slideshow: Beto O’Rourke at Michigan carpenters training center
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’ Rourke (D-Texas) made three stops in Michigan Monday after announcing his presidential bid last week. His swing came just after his campaign announced he raised $6.1 million on his first day — the most of any Democratic presidential contender so far. O’Rourke said that Michigan would be a key state […]
Rick Haglund: Michigan’s auto industry faces historic changes
Who needs economic diversification? We’re the auto state, baby! That’s essentially the message Michigan has been sending to the world in the past decade since Detroit’s automakers roared back from their near collapse. Amplifying the message was Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ stunning announcement in February that it intends to invest $4.5 billion to build a new […]
Susan J. Demas: Business leaders should call GOP’s bluff on Whitmer’s gas tax
It’s almost springtime in Michigan, which means that it’s time for another glorious season of pothole roulette. Nobody really denies that our roads are in shambles, as most Michiganders have lost a tire (or several) or coughed up hundreds of dollars for far more serious car repairs. And the $2.5 billion annual cost to really […]