First in Something

A confluence of data released by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the U.S. Census Bureau and the private, for-profit United Van Lines underscores a frightening trend in population losses related to the Great Lakes State. The trends cry out for recommendations for reversing Michigan's economic decline.
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Power Struggle

By means of an "executive directive" Gov. Jennifer Granholm made good on her State of the State promise to restrict new coal-fired power plants. The negative effects on Michigan's energy future were not long in coming — the very next day The Bay City Times reported that five pending power plant projects have been put on hold, including a $2 billion one in Bay County. Before more damage is done, the governor should rescind this directive, or the Legislature should prohibit such a moratorium.
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MEDC Transparency

(Note: The following are the edited remarks of Kenneth M. Braun, Mackinac Center policy analyst, delivered Jan. 27, 2009, to the Michigan Senate Finance Committee.)

Hello senators and thank you for inviting me here today. I am from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research institution headquartered in Midland, Mich. We don't endorse or oppose legislation, but when asked we provide our perspective regarding what we believe a proposed policy change will accomplish.

I am here today because Sen. Cassis has asked us to comment on Senate Bills 71 and 72.
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An Encouraging Word

We hear discouraging and pessimistic comments about the economy every day, and many people are afraid of how long the current recession will last. Michigan just got more bad news as its economic forecasters predicted that the unemployment rate will average 11.3 percent in 2009 and the state's budget will overspend revenues by $1.6 billion. But within the economic slowdown, there is actually plenty of good news if you take the time to look for it.
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Drunk With Power

A new state law prohibits Michigan connoisseurs of wine and beer from purchasing these products and having them shipped directly to their home from wineries, breweries and other suppliers. Instead, all such purchases will be allowed only from a state-endorsed wholesaler. Introduced in November 2008 as House Bill 6644, the new law was quickly passed during the final days of the 2008 legislative session. It was overwhelmingly supported by 134 of the 148 members of the Michigan Legislature, and became Public Act 474 of 2008 upon being signed by the governor and then enacted on Jan. 9, 2009.
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Rookie Sensations

During the first week of February, the official homepages of Michigan State Reps. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester, and Justin Amash, R-Grand Rapids, acquired a prominently displayed "Government Transparency" hyperlink that allowed everyone with a Web browser to learn the names and salaries of these legislators' staff. In office for just over a month, this simple decision likely meant that the new lawmakers had become the only state officials to be so open with Michigan taxpayers regarding who is working for them and how much they are paid.

This example should be followed by all of the state's elected officials. Salaries are a large percentage of every government's expenditures and a politician's taxpayer-funded staff is a powerful tool that can be used for both good government... and not so good.
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Che What?

One would think that four hours would be enough to capture cinematically the essence of a biographical subject, but Steven Soderbergh's epic "Che" is so wide of the mark as to cause bewilderment in any knowledgeable viewer. "Knowledgeable" meaning an ever so slightly remote or even passing familiarity with the historical penumbra surrounding Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Argentine doctor turned mass murderer and revolutionary symbol.
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Polluting the Environment

Joe Maguire, president of Wolverine Development and a Mackinac Center board member, was dumbfounded when he received a letter last December from an environmental consulting firm requesting his consent for access to conduct an environmental assessment on property he owns in East Lansing. Maguire's well-maintained property features a McDonald's restaurant in the East Village area adjacent to the Michigan State University campus.
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Dear Mr. President

Since the Jan. 19, 2009, Current Comment "Goofing Off at Ford: A National Emergency," I have received a number of comments, most of which were complimentary or at least respectful. One commenter in particular asked if I could offer a solution for the problem. It just so happens I have one.
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State of Crisis?

Gov. Jennifer Granholm proposed nine expansions of government and six contractions in her spoken State of the State address Feb. 3. A different, longer, more interventionist version of the speech posted on the governor’s Web site showed 16 expansions and six limitations.
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