Five things to know about Michigan’s Medicaid work rules
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Thousands of Michigan residents enrolled in Healthy Michigan are now expected to work 80 hours a month — or tell the state why they can’t — to continue receiving health insurance under Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program. Who’s affected? The work rules apply only to a portion of Michigan’s 662,000 people who […]
Michigan residents say they oppose uncertified teachers leading classrooms
by Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) In an era where education policy can be divisive, Michigan residents overwhelmingly agree on one thing: They want trained, certified teachers leading school classrooms. A large majority say they are skeptical that long-term substitute teachers who currently are in charge of thousands of Michigan classrooms can provide a quality education for […]
The answer to swelling jails? Stop jailing so many folks, Michigan report says
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING – A coalition charged with shrinking Michigan’s county jail populations is recommending the state reduce license suspensions, shorten probation terms, cut fines for civil infractions and stop requiring inmates to pay for their own incarceration, among other things. The recommendations, unveiled Tuesday, are based on an unprecedented analysis of local jail […]
Michigan’s ‘green ooze’ may be ‘tip of iceberg’ of state’s toxic sites
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING – The discovery of toxic PFAS chemicals at a contaminated site in Madison Heights could triple the cost of an already expensive cleanup effort, a state official told lawmakers Wednesday. And taxpayers could get stuck with the bill to clean up the green ooze site, since it’s unclear if its […]
Five things to know as Michigan lawmakers kick-start state budget process
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led Legislature wrapped up a bitter nine-month budget fight in December, with a deal that restored more than half of her $1 billion in line-item vetoes but included no new money to fix the state’s roads. A month later, they’re getting ready […]
Michigan’s brain drain is back, as best and brightest leave state
By Mike Wilkinson When it comes to population, Michigan is no longer a rarity – a state losing population while every other one is gaining it. The state has gained residents since bottoming out in 2009 after five straight years of decline. But recovery has been tepid and from July 2018 to July 2019, the […]
New year, old problems: Six issues Michigan leaders vow to tackle in 2020
By Riley Beggin LANSING – It was a rocky first year of divided government, and none of Michigan’s leaders deny it. But Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican legislative leaders in the House and Senate say they’re going into 2020 wiser, relationships strengthened, to tackle the problems they couldn’t address in their first year. […]
Michigan Republican pushes to deregulate health care. Some hospitals call foul.
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge) Republican legislation in the Michigan Senate raises a basic question: What is the proper role of state government in regulating health care? Introduced in December, the seven-bill package would lessen state oversight over dozens of hospitals and strip regulation over a range of issues, from the number of psychiatric beds to oversight of […]
How to weigh in on Michigan’s proposed limits on PFAS in drinking water
By Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy this week is beginning to accept public comment on proposed new limits for PFAS in drinking water. Through month’s end, the state is soliciting input on the proposed rules, including three community meetings, before likely rolling them out in late spring. Michigan’s rules would […]
Michigan to allow cellphones in all courts, striking down local bans
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING – Cellphones, laptops, tablets and similar devices will be allowed in all Michigan courts beginning in May, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday. The order strikes bans on cellphones that are common in Michigan’s 242 courts, which are allowed to set their own policies. And it follows public testimony […]
