September 28, 2007 – 12:01 pm
Two anecdotes capture the astonishing combination of incompetence, isolation, irresponsibility and rank partisanship that have characterized our political system in Lansing over the past several weeks.
A conversation with a Republican State Representative as he emerged from a late night Sunday night session of the House went like this: What are you going to do about [...]
September 21, 2007 – 12:33 pm
Michigan's public policy and finance system is broken.
That's the only lesson that can be drawn from the year-long (!) deadlock in Lansing over the state’s budget. The interests of nearly 10 million Michigan citizens have been held hostage to the partisan agendas of both political parties and their member office-holders.
Otherwise, we'd be talking seriously about [...]
September 14, 2007 – 9:27 am
Last week was marked by the abysmal failure of our elected leaders to do their jobs and agree on a plan to wipe out a projected $1.75 billion deficit in the state’s budget for the next fiscal year. With everybody involved preoccupied with blaming everybody else, what you hear all over Lansing the thin, high [...]
September 10, 2007 – 10:53 am
A public engagement campaign designed to give everyone a say in the future of our state. Have your say and make your voice heard. Join us to make Michigan the state we want it to be. Michigan's economic, governmental, and social systems are in crisis. In response, the Center for Michigan is launching a statewide campaign to engage citizens and leaders alike in in-depth dialogue about how best to position Michigan and its people for a new era of success and prosperity.
Protecting "North Coast" natural resource assets is a fundamental way for state and federal politicians to help Michigan's future.
Look beyond the gloom and you can find a fair amount of good news in Michigan's economy
An Airport City in Southeastern Michigan helps everybody, including an awful lot of politicians who could use a win right now.
Politician-turned-education innovator Doug Ross shows it's possible to grow wildly successful urban schools.
Beyond an awful lot of well-reasoned negativity, a few hopeful signs emerged at this year's Mackinac policy conference.
A budget solution? Hardly. Legislators' "hocus pocus" has only drawn scorn from statewide leaders gathered for the annual policy summit on Mackinac Island.