Business + Labor
Rick Haglund: Biz groups fighting Whitmer’s environmental agenda fail to see big economic picture
Republican leaders in the Legislature have pledged to work cooperatively with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on solving the tough issues facing the state. But apparently that spirit of collaboration doesn’t apply when she does something they don’t like. GOP lawmakers and business lobbying groups are incensed with Whitmer over a recent executive order she issued […]
Video: Lawmakers on gov. agenda of equal pay, auto insurance reform
As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ramps up to reveal her first budget next month, Republican and Democratic lawmakers, not surprisingly, are hoping to hear different things. The Advance interviewed legislators following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State address on Tuesday. Democrats tended to praise her for highlighting long-term problems in state government like low […]
Shades of Cherry Commission in Whitmer’s education and workforce agenda
Do you remember what the Cherry Commission was? If so, congratulations. Like me, you are a huge policy nerd. But in light of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s announced goal at her State of the State address to have 60 percent of Michigan residents attain a post-high school credential by 2030, it’s worth taking a trip in […]
West Michigan biz leaders cheer Whitmer’s LGBTQ rights push
Several members of West Michigan’s famously conservative business community are on board with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call in her State of the State address for expanded LGBTQ protections. It’s legislative Republicans who continue to oppose the move. Speaking before almost 400 people in Grand Rapids on Wednesday morning, just 12 hours after finishing her speech […]
AG asked to review GOP action modifying paid sick time, minimum wage initiatives
State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) wants the Michigan attorney general to take another look at last year’s GOP legislative maneuvering to weaken ballot initiatives on minimum wage and paid sick time. In a letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel, Chang requested an official opinion. The lawmaker wrote that the GOP-controlled Legislature’s moves last year to […]
Leaders grade gov. speech on jobs, auto insurance, education and more
There was no shortage of people giving their takes on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State speech on Tuesday night, including the man she jokingly referred to from the rostrum as “Mr. Julie Calley.” Former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who’s married to current state Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland), has appeared with Whitmer at […]
Bet on roads? Tribes could lose in gambling plan
Despite repeated failure, a bill has resurfaced that would inject $60 million of Native American gambling money into the state’s crumbling roads. Early this session, state Rep. Jeff Yaroch (R-Richmond) introduced House Bill 4093 that would use casino revenue shared with the state to help pave Michigan roads. The same bill failed to gain traction […]
Whitmer picks charter school advocate for new ‘prosperity’ position
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tapped former charter school executive Doug Ross to serve as her senior advisor for “Michigan Prosperity,” according to a statement released from her office late Monday afternoon. In this role, Ross will work with Whitmer’s office to “improve workforce talent and educational attainment” and further overall economic development outcomes. “If we’re […]
Former state rep. lands on Public Service Commission
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Dan Scripps, an energy policy expert and former state House representative, to serve on the Michigan Public Service Commission. Scripps, a Democrat from Northport who’s currently program director for Midwest Policy for the Energy Foundation, will fill a vacant slot on the three-member commission that provides oversight of the state’s […]
GOP Senate still undecided on scrapping gov. environmental order
Republicans remain displeased over a new environmental order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but it’s unclear if the GOP-led Legislature will ultimately throttle the measure. There’s been plenty of back-and-forth this week since Whitmer signed the measure on Monday. On Wednesday, the House rejected an executive order making organizational changes to the Department of Environmental Quality […]
AG pulls Michigan from ExxonMobil suit
Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on Thursday continued her quest to remove the state from federal lawsuits her GOP predecessor had joined. Nessel announced she had exited the state from the case of ExxonMobil v. Healey in the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals. GOP former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette had last year joined […]
SOTU: Trump still wants his wall, namechecks Michigan on NAFTA
WASHINGTON — President Trump implored Congress Tuesday to move past political gridlock in favor of bipartisan cooperation before he dug in on the border security fight that threatens to shut down the government yet again. “We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger […]