Commentary
Tom Watkins: ‘Our Muslim Neighbors’ teaches us about humanity
I knew Victor Ghalib Begg through various civic and public boards where we crossed paths over the years. On Sept. 11, 2001, we were together at a Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) strategic planning retreat. Victor was sitting between Michigan’s then-first lady, Michelle Engler, and myself. At the time, I was Michigan’s state superintendent of […]
Gilda Z. Jacobs: Bipartisan balance needed in Michigan’s budget
The Michigan League for Public Policy has been working on our annual report for 2018, and in looking back on our highlights from last year, a clear pattern has emerged. In addition to a lot of defensive battles, with varying degrees of success, our biggest policy “wins” for the people of Michigan each year are […]
Susan J. Demas: Cox calls Whitmer ‘crazy,’ because it’s Trump’s GOP now
Former Gov. Rick Snyder wasn’t at the Michigan Republican Party state convention last weekend — and neither was his brand of civility politics. New party Chair Laura Cox rode to her position on the strength of endorsements from heavy-hitters in President Trump’s orbit, like 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale. So she appeared to be doing […]
Rick Haglund: Amazon vs. everybody and Michigan’s place in tax break wars
Good-government types are hailing the breakup of online retail giant Amazon and New York City as a long-awaited reckoning of the outrageous subsidies offered by states and communities looking to attract new employers. Amazon, as you might have read between stories about President Trump playing golf during a supposed national emergency and Princess Meghan Markle’s […]
Alex Rossman: My view from the ICU: Everyone deserves quality health care
I’m writing this from a hospital room in the pediatric intensive care unit. One of my sweet little nine-month-old daughters (yes, twins!) is dealing with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and is sleeping a few feet away with a feeding tube down her throat and artificial oxygen being steadily pumped into her nose. She looks a […]
Susan J. Demas: It’s a new day in Michigan, boys. Try and keep up.
Just after Christmas 2011, I was sitting in a tent in Arizona’s Arrastra Mountains, enjoying the 20-degree chill and a much-needed break from covering politics 14 hours a day. Out of habit, I was scrolling through news on my Blackberry (yes, that’s what I had at the time) and stumbled on a quote from then-state Sen. […]
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 […]
Tom Watkins: We must end mental health stigma to stop suicide
The news hit me hard. There was another apparent suicide and my heart sank. I did not know Travis Weber well; in fact, I believe I only met him once briefly. That did not stop the tears from flowing when I heard the news. Travis Weber served as former Gov. Rick Snyder’s legal counsel and […]
FOX-2 doubles down on story with explicit comments about Whitmer’s looks
FOX-2 spent the day getting dragged on social media for its bizarre story featuring random commentators leering at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appearance, often in explicit detail, during her first State of the State speech. But on Thursday evening, the station refused to apologize and instead doubled down. That was after the governor weighed in Thursday afternoon […]
Susan J. Demas: You can really just stop with your creepy fashion critiques of Whitmer
A Detroit TV station decided that an insightful story to throw together on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State address was a roundup of social media randos commenting on the dress she wore — and even explicit assessments of her body parts. The story features a dude on Facebook who lewdly congratulated the governor […]
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 […]
Susan J. Demas: If we ever get single-payer health care, thank John Dingell
John Dingell Jr. touched the lives of thousands of people, both in small and monumental ways. The outpouring of grief from his colleagues, staffers and loved ones since his passing on Thursday night is testament to both his remarkable heart and extraordinary career. To note that he was the longest-serving member of Congress in history […]