News
Davidson heads group fighting for Medicare, ACA
Dr. Rob Davidson, a Democrat who lost his 2018 challenge to U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), has a new gig. He’s the new volunteer executive director of the nonprofit Committee to Protect Medicare & the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Spring Lake emergency room doctor will continue to practice medicine, the organization said on its […]
Congress passes conservation bill honoring John Dingell
Less than a month after the passing of former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, Congress has honored him by passing a conservation package bearing his name. The legislation now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump. The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act “promotes conservation, recreation, historic preservation and cultural resource protection in Michigan […]
Dems: Trump administration failing to ensure clean drinking water
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and other Democrats on Wednesday accused the President Trump administration of failing to act swiftly enough to protect the public from dangerous chemicals found in drinking water. At a hearing held by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, Kildee criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Defense […]
From preschool to Flint: Michigan budget details you might have missed
A $60.2 billion budget has a lot of nooks and crannies. The Advance has covered Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s overall fiscal year 2020 budget, roads plan, education spending increase, environmental funding, local government spending, GOP criticism, business group’s split reactions and more. But not everything gets initial headlines, like a 35 percent increase to Michigan’s state-funded preschool […]
Slideshow and video of Whitmer’s first budget address
On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her first budget to the state House and Senate Appropriations committees, which have oversight of the process. She was joined by Budget Director Chris Kolb. The Advance has reported in depth on aspects of the fiscal year 2020 budget. Here’s a roundup of our coverage so far, including background […]
On this Day in 1857: Cass becomes U.S. Secretary of State
Lewis Cass of Michigan on March 6, 1857, became U.S. Secretary of State. Cass previously served as Michigan territorial governor from 1813 to 1831. He later had two stints in the U.S. Senate, from 1845 to 1848, and 1849 to 1857. During his tenure as territorial governor, Cass helped President Andrew Jackson implement the policy […]
Gilchrist, Chatfield to work with Duggan on auto insurance reform
Mayor Mike Duggan’s call Tuesday night for the state Legislature to act on auto insurance reform wasn’t new — but he did have a powerful bipartisan fan club in attendance. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, and state House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) sat together at his State of the City speech at Detroit’s East […]
Republicans leery, Democrats silent on governor’s gas tax hike
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s gas tax proposal to fix the roads — which would make Michigan the nation’s highest fuel tax state — is a tough sell for Republicans. Whitmer said the 45-cent increase phased in over a year is the “smartest” way to raise the the roughly $2.5 billion experts say is necessary to bring […]
Whitmer’s budget pitch to reluctant Republicans: Pay now or pay more later
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a simple message on Tuesday for legislators who questioned the need to raise taxes to improve schools and roads: Pay now or pay more later. “Contrary to political rhetoric that should be behind us, I can tell you this: No one likes to raise taxes,” Whitmer told House and Senate Appropriations […]
Freedom Fund hammers Whitmer for ‘lazy’ roads plan
The conservative Freedom Fund is slamming Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, saying she’s gone back on an October debate statement that dramatically raising the gas tax is “ridiculous.” The governor’s budget proposal includes increasing the state’s fuel tax by 45 cents to fix the roads, which would give Michigan the nation’s highest gas tax. She told reporters […]
Governor earns split decision on budget from business groups
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2020 budget has, not surprisingly, won praise from education organizations, road builders, anti-poverty advocates and local government groups. When it came to business groups, however, the Democrat got a mixed review. Doug Rothwell, President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, praised her roads plan. “Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) […]
Whitmer’s $60B budget axes pension tax, adds new business tax
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s inaugural budget comes with a combination of major increases for roads and schools while aiming to offset tax hikes with targeted cuts. The $60.2 billion proposal for fiscal year 2020 is a 3.2 percent increase from the 2019 budget. Whitmer aims to raise $2.5 billion for roads via a 45-cent gas tax […]