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 […]
Michigan inches toward universal pre-K as leaders support 2-year kindergarten
By Ron French (Bridge) Without news conferences, legislative action or statewide policy changes, Michigan is moving closer to universal, optional preschool for 4-year-olds. By essentially sanctioning a second year of kindergarten, more than half of 4-year-olds in the state are now in taxpayer-funded preschool or developmental kindergarten, and that number is likely to increase, with […]
Michigan Supreme Court won’t rule on GOP minimum wage, sick leave changes
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) The Michigan Supreme Court will not decide whether the Legislature’s maneuver to “adopt and amend” the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave laws during last year’s lame-duck session was constitutional, the court announced in a 4-3 ruling Wednesday, December 18. “We are not persuaded that granting the requests would be […]
Michigan Democrats take aim at Nestlé. Farmers urge caution.
By Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) A Swiss company’s water withdrawals in northern Michigan are again stoking long-simmering tensions, with the issue becoming part of a larger debate over who controls water diversion across the Great Lakes region. In a one-two punch, Nestlé Waters North America, Inc. is the target of two state bills designed to increase the state’s control […]
Michigan Republicans poised to bypass Whitmer, ban abortion procedure
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING – Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature is likely to criminalize the most common form of second-trimester abortion early next year if initiated legislation reaches the Capitol. That would bypass Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has promised a veto, but spark a legal fight. House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike […]
Michigan leaders join forces to reform schools. Can it work this time?
By Ron French (Bridge) A Who’s Who of Michigan civic leaders announced Wednesday a joint effort to try to reform Michigan’s struggling schools, focusing first on early literacy and routing more money to high-poverty and rural schools. The organization, called Launch Michigan, may be the most ambitious collaboration of philanthropy, education, labor, business and community leaders in […]
A guide to Michigan’s 2020 Census: jobs, scams, citizen issues
By Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) The United States has conducted a census every 10 years for more than two centuries, but the 2020 one stands out as particularly momentous. On top of the controversy surrounding whether or not the 2020 census would ask about a respondent’s citizen status (it won’t), it is the first that will allow […]
