2020

October

• West Michigan reacts to death of Peter Secchia – WZZM 13 – October 21, 2020

• Michigan House Republicans introduce coronavirus response plan based on local case numbers – Detroit Free Press – October 20, 2020

• Michigan lawmakers approve extension of unemployment benefits, new nursing home rules – Detroit Free Press – October 14, 2020

• Lawmakers OK bills to extend unemployment, change nursing home policy – Detroit News – October 14, 2020

• High court: Whitmer’s orders have ‘no continuing legal effect’– Detroit News – October 12, 2020

• Gov. Whitmer signs bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan – Detroit Free Press – October 12, 2020

• Policy Talks @ the Ford School – Is the federal deficit unsustainable? – Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy – October 7, 2020

• Nessel won’t enforce Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s COVID orders after court ruling – Bridge Michigan – October 4, 2020

• Shirkey: No urgency to negotiate COVID regulations; Senate GOP won’t support new mask mandate – Crain’s Detroit Business – October 3, 2020

• Michigan Supreme Court rules against Whitmer’s use of emergency powers law in pandemic – Crain’s Detroit Business – October 2, 2020

September

• In ‘dire need,’ 1 in 5 Michigan restaurants may not survive winter – Bridge Michigan – September 28, 2020

• Movie theaters, bowling alleys may reopen statewide in 2 weeks – WOOD-TV 8 – September 25, 2020

• Bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan pass state Senate – MLive – September 23, 2020

• Michigan House: Ease licensing for people with criminal past – Crain’s Detroit Business – September 11, 2020

• Task force recommends ways to improve care at nursing homes amid coronavirus pandemic – Crain’s Detroit Business – September 1, 2020

August

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: ‘We will never do any of these lockdowns again’ – WPTV – August 31, 2020

• Feds demand answers from Gov. Whitmer on Michigan nursing home deaths – Bridge Michigan – August 26, 2020

• A Conversation on Civility & Collegiality – WMPF – August 18, 2020

• Editorial: Whitmer should face the press mask-to-mask – Detroit News – Detroit News –August 6, 2020

July

• Michigan criminal record expungement bills a step closer to Senate vote – Detroit Free Press – July 26, 2020

June

• Jacques: Don’t make senior safety partisan – Detroit News – June 25, 2020

• Michigan Senate backs bill to stop placing coronavirus patients in nursing homes – MLive – June 25, 2020

• Finley: Hackel: Emergency over; restore democracy – Detroit News – June 24, 2020

• Kent County entering ‘new phase’ of coronavirus pandemic as deaths stabilize, health officials say – MLive – June 19, 2020

• Open Michigan Safely: Jojo’s House of Beauty – WOOD-TV 8 – June 15, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Orange Theory Fitness – WOOD-TV 8 – June 11, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille – WOOD-TV 8 – June 9, 2020

• Closed fitness facility owners ask: ‘Why won’t Governor Whitmer let us open safely?’– MLive – June 9, 2020

• 7 numbers that stand out as Michigan begins to re-open after coronavirus quarantine – MLive – June 9, 2020

• Will the Pandemic Cost Teachers Their Pensions? – Washington Monthly– June 5, 2020

• Are public pensions doomed because of the coronavirus pandemic? State, local budgets feel pain – USA Today– June 4, 2020

• Whitmer ends Michigan’s stay home order, allows bars and restaurants to reopen June 8 – Detroit Free Press – June 1, 2020

May

• On the coronavirus, Gretchen Whitmer has done nothing but make excuses – Washington Examiner – May 29, 2020

• Open Michigan Safely: RE/MAX of Grand Rapids – WOOD-TV 8 – May 29, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Mercy Health – WOOD-TV 8 – May 28, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Perrigo Company – WOOD-TV 8 – May 27, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Fox Ford – MLive – May 22, 2020

• West Michigan prepares safe and sure methods to protect lives and livelihoods – MLive – May 22, 2020

• Open Michigan Safely: Fox Ford – WOOD-TV 8 – May 22, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Rockford Construction – WOOD-TV 8 – May 21, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: Sable Homes – WOOD-TV 8 – May 20, 2020
• Grand Rapids Chamber Supports Small Business with Smart Restart – WOOD TV8 – May 19, 2020
• Open Michigan Safely: RoMan Manufacturing – WOOD-TV 8 – May 18, 2020
• The coronavirus crisis shows experts aren’t enough – The Wall Street Journal – May 15, 2020

• Opinion: Data says we can open Michigan safely – Detroit News – May 14, 2020

• ‘It’s time to worry’: Michigan dentists say regular care must resume – MLive – May 13, 2020
• Partners unveil COVID-19 dashboard for Grand Rapids – Grand Rapids Business Journal – May 12, 2020
• Michigan’s slow pandemic response: Sacrificing livelihoods without saving lives – MLive – May 12, 2020
• Returning Kent County Back to Work Safely Discussion – WMPF – May 7, 2020
• With no surge in coronavirus expected, Muskegon health facilities eye reopening – MLive – May 5, 2020
• As Michigan economy nears reopening, businesses scramble for protective gear – Bridge Magazine – May 1, 2020

April

• West Michigan hospitals, providers prepare for COVID-19 increase – Crain’s Detroit Business – April 28, 2020
• Coronavirus cases in Kent County double in a week; Michigan reports 1,052 new COVID-19 cases, 160 deaths – Crain’s Detroit Business – April 28, 2020
• West Michigan policy group eager for plan to reopen the economy – MLive – April 27, 2020
• Quicken Loans developing mobile health screening app for workforce use – Crain’s Detroit Business – April 27, 2020
• Michigan CEOs talk ways to get safely back to work – WOOD-TV 8 – April 22, 2020
• Different look for factory floors once business resumes – WOOD-TV 8 – April 20, 2020
• KHN Morning Briefing: How to business and stay safe – Kaiser Health News – April 20, 2020
• How a Michigan Senate task force would get people back to work amid coronavirus crisis – Detroit Free Press – April 16, 2020
• Finley: How to do business, and stay safe – Detroit News – April 10, 2020
• Michigan Legislature votes to extend emergency declaration 23 days – Detroit News – April 7, 2020
• Jacques: Senate leader forms workgroup to pave way for reopening businesses – Detroit News – April 7, 2020

February

• Opinion: Keep moving on jail, prison reform – Detroit News – Feb. 5, 2020
• Opinion: Whitmer’s rebellion hurts our kids – Detroit News – Feb. 5, 2020
• Is there a grand bonding bargain brewing for roads and school pensions? – Crain’s Detroit Business – Feb. 2, 2020

January

• Gov. Whitmer launching effort to undercut Michigan’s third-grade reading law – Bridge Magazine – Jan. 29, 2020
• Michigan’s 3rd grade reading law is in effect. How does it work? – 13 On Your Side – Jan. 27, 2020
• Jail task force release 18 ideas for lawmakers to overhaul criminal justice system – 7&4 News – Jan. 15, 2020
• Michigan Chamber president: Bonding idea for roads has ‘merit’ – Detroit News – Jan. 15, 2020
• Michigan the latest to roll out Medicaid work rules. Can it avoid pitfalls? – Bridge Magazine – Jan. 13, 2020

2019

December

• Opinion | Read by Grade 3 law doesn’t hurt kids – it’s offering a lifeline – Bridge Magazine – Dec. 12, 2019
• Editorial: Keep Medicaid work rules in place for now – Detroit News – Dec. 7, 2019

November

• Opinion | Don’t gut the third-grade reading law; give it a chance to work – Bridge Magazine – Nov. 25, 2019
• Ex-Michigan legislators sue to overturn term limits – Crain’s Detroit Business – Nov. 20, 2019
• Don’t gut third grade reading law; give it a chance – Grand Rapids Business Journal – Nov. 15, 2019
• Group accuses state ed department of hiding school data – Detroit News – Nov. 12, 2019
• Opinion: Give third grade reading law a chance – Detroit News – Nov. 12, 2019
• Flint’s ‘comeback story’ at odds with its bleak fiscal outlook – Crain’s Detroit Business – Nov. 10, 2019
• Bills to expand criminal record expungement pass Michigan House – Detroit Free Press – Nov. 5, 2019
• Michigan eyes reform to costly, confusing system of expunging criminal records – Bridge Magazine – Nov. 4, 2019
• Alex Rossman: Raise the Age is a criminal justice reform win for the ages – Michigan Advance – Nov. 1, 2019

October

• Michigan’s ‘Raise the Age’ law effective in 2021, not retroactive – WJRT ABC 12 – Oct. 31, 2019
• Opinion | Michigan spending more on education, but teacher pay stagnant – Bridge Magazine – Oct. 27, 2019
• Supreme Court tosses Michigan gerrymandering ruling in GOP win – Detroit News – Oct. 21, 2019
• Grand Rapids Chamber Podcast, Season 2, Episode 20: Criminal Justice Reform with Lenore Anderson and Doug DeVos – Grand Rapids Chamber – Oct. 16, 2019
• Score one for bipartisanship: Michigan Dems, GOP pass ‘raise the age’ bills – Bridge Magazine – Oct. 16, 2019
• Opinion: Criminal justice reform strengthens families, communities – Detroit News – Oct. 8, 2019
• West Michigan business leaders push for criminal justice reform – MLivee – Oct. 7, 2019
• Lawmakers focus on non-budget issues in meeting with Whitmer – Crain’s Detroit Business – Oct. 3, 2019

September

• Union pension fund to slash benefits to avoid insolvency – Crain’s Detroit Business – Sept. 29, 2019
• Largest Local Governments in Michigan Carry $5.5B in Pension Debt – Mackinac Center – Sept. 19, 2019
• Report: Pension shortfall eats into Michigan teacher salaries – Chalkbeat – Sept. 11, 2019
• Michigan teacher pay stagnates as budget debate continues – Detroit News – Sept. 11, 2019
• Michigan Republicans push budget without road deal, a likely no-go for Whitmer – Bridge Magazine – Sept. 6, 2019
• Opinion: ‘Read by Grade Three’ law helps students – Traverse City Record Eagle – Sept. 4, 2019

August

• House Dem leader: Whitmer’s 45 cent gas tax hike likely won’t happen – The Detroit News – Aug. 29, 2019
• Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: Leaders should ‘stop playing games’ on roads funding – Bridge Magazine – Aug. 28, 2019
• Whitmer: ‘I’m not married to a 45-cent gas tax’ hike – Crain’s Detroit Business – Aug. 27, 2019
• How Will Michigan Fund Road Repairs? – For Construction Pros – Aug. 23, 2019
• Ideas Abound to Fix Michigan Roads – Transport Topics – Aug. 22, 2019
• Ideas abound, but no concrete plans yet as Michigan lawmakers consider road funding fix – MLive – Aug. 21, 2019
• Pressure builds on Michigan Republicans for roads plan to avoid shutdown – Bridge Magazine – Aug. 21, 2019
• Opinion: Pouring pensions into potholes is too great a risk – Detroit News – Aug. 20, 2019
• Growing bipartisan consensus: State has a revenue problem – Crain’s Detroit Business – Aug. 18, 2019
• Opinion | Fund the child, not the ZIP code, in Michigan school budget – Bridge Magazine – Aug. 16, 2019
• As September looms, no Republican proposal yet to fix Michigan’s roads – Bridge Magazine – Aug. 15, 2019
• Here’s your cheat sheet for Michigan’s budget after a long, hot, stagnant summer – Michigan Advance – Aug. 14, 2019
• Whitmer wants ‘contingency plan’ to avoid shutdown over roads – The Detroit News – Aug. 12, 2019
• Whitmer: Delaying pension payments has ‘long-term cost’– Chicago Tribune – Aug. 1, 2019
• Whitmer: Delaying pension payments has ‘long-term cost’– WEYI-TV 25 – Aug. 1, 2019
• Whitmer: Delaying pension payments has ‘long-term cost’– WZZM-TV 13 – Aug. 1, 2019
• Whitmer: Delaying pension payments has ‘long-term cost’– Cadillac News – Aug. 1, 2019

July

• Whitmer opens door to tying pension financing to road funding – Crain’s Detroit Business – July 24, 2019
• $4.9M grant lets researcher study state’s reading law – The Detroit News –July 21, 2019
• Michigan prison inmates need job skills, but technology books are banned – Bridge Magazine – July 18, 2019
• Opinion: Fix the roads while funding teacher pensions – The Detroit News –July 17, 2019
• Bridge: Republican ideas to fund Michigan road repairs taking shape over summer – Michigan Radio – July 17, 2019
• Republican ideas to fund Michigan road repairs taking shape over summer – Bridge Magazine – July 15, 2019
• Teacher retirement system part of GOP road plan – Lansing City Pulse – July 10, 2019
• Jase Bolger, Policy Advisor of the West Michigan Policy Forum, Former Speaker of the MI House – Michigan’s Big Show – July 9, 2019
• New road-funding idea: Issue $10B in teacher pension debt to free up cash – Crain’s Detroit Business – July 7, 2019
• Michigan court ruling opens door to retiree healthcare cuts – The Bond Buyer – July 2, 2019

June 

• GOP’s $1B road repair idea: Pension bonds – The Detroit News – June 28, 2019
• Stateside: Road funding solutions; legacy of James Boggs; the last Artisan of Michigan – Michigan Radio NPR – June 28, 2019
• Whitmer fights lame-duck GOP move in court – The Detroit News – June 19, 2019
• Michigan House neutralizes bid to restrict Gordie Howe Bridge spending – The Detroit News – June 13, 2019
• Michigan Republican lawmakers challenge Nessel opinion on ballot drive law – Bridge Michigan – June 5, 2019
• Whipple and Jandernoa: A road map to restoring Michigan’s school system – Crain’s Detroit Business – June 9, 2019

May

• Shirkey set to pitch ballot initiative in 2021 challenging term limits – The Detroit News – May 30, 2019
• Whitmer signs historic no-fault auto insurance reform bill – The Detroit News – May 30, 2019
• Jeb Bush: ‘Be bold or go home’ with school reform – The Detroit News – May 29, 2019
• Opinion | Current, former Republican Speakers seek Michigan jail reform – Bridge Michigan – May 24, 2019
• What the no-fault auto reform deal means for Michigan drivers – Bridge Michigan – May 24, 2019
• Whitmer, GOP leaders announce deal to lower auto insurance premiums – Detroit Free Press – May 24, 2019
• Whitmer signs bills to parole medically frail prisoners – MLive – May 23, 2019
• Michigan lawmakers set rare Friday session for possible auto insurance reform vote – The Detroit News – May 23, 2019
• Lansing inches toward no-fault deal, as Whitmer remarks add to optimism – Bridge Michigan – May 21, 2019
• Gilbert ‘hopeful’ for auto insurance deal between Whitmer, GOP leaders – The Detroit News – May 20, 2019
• Dan Gilbert could launch ballot petition on auto insurance: What it could mean – Detroit Free Press – May 20, 2019
• Michigan Republicans and Whitmer move closer to no-fault auto insurance deal – Bridge Michigan – May 16, 2019
• Whitmer: Crumbling bridges ‘a catastrophe in the making’ – Crain’s Detroit Business – May 16, 2019
• Business leaders prepare for Mackinac conference – WOOD-TV 8 – May 10, 2019
• New Michigan law stops cop confiscations without conviction – The Detroit News – May 9, 2019
• Competing views on auto no-fault changes linger amid House, Senate plans – MLive – May 9, 2019
• House OKs auto insurance reform; gov renews veto threat – The Detroit News – May 8, 2019
• Major Development Expected On Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance This Week –WWJ Newsradio –May 6, 2019
• Michigan Senate OK’s sweeping auto insurance reform plan, but Whitmer threatens veto – The Detroit News – May 7, 2019

April

• Another attempt to reform Michigan no fault auto insurance expected soon –WDIV-TV 4 – April 30, 2019
• Shirkey: GOP won’t rule out Nessel impeachment – The Detroit News – April 25, 2019
• Grand Rapids area driving Michigan population growth; see new Census estimates for each county – MLive – April 18, 2019
• Job outlook for GVSU students on positive trend – WOOD-TV8 – April 18, 2019
• Opinion: Michigan work requirements for Medicaid will improve health – The Detroit News – April 11, 2019
• As 3rd grade reading law looms, Detroit district takes new literacy program national – Michigan Advance – April 11, 2019

March

• Minimum wage, paid sick leave to take effect while under legal reviews – The Detroit News – March 28, 2019
• Cash-Strapped Illinois, Chicago Seek Billions From Investors – The Wall Street Journal – March 26, 2019
• Where have all the babies gone? Michigan births lowest since 1944 – Bridge Michigan – March 11, 2019

February

• A $18B debt is coming due, and it’s haunting small town Michigan – Bridge Michigan – Feb. 25, 2019
• Lawmaker wants AG opinion on weakening of sick leave, minimum wage initiatives – The Detroit News – Feb. 13, 2019

January

• Nessel: Petition drive law ‘puts a limit on the peoples’ voice’ – The Detroit News – Jan. 23, 2019
• New rules mean big obstacles for future ballot initiatives, 2018 organizers say – MLive – Jan. 11, 2019
• VNP Won’t Seek Referendum On New Petition Requirements – Gongwer – Jan. 10, 2019
• Referendums Possible On Minimum Wage, Sick Time, Petition Laws – Gongwer – Jan. 2, 2019

2018

December 

• The lame-duck rundown of bills that Snyder signed, vetoed – WJBK-TV Fox 2 News – Dec. 30, 2018
• Snyder signs dozens of lame duck bills, including $1.2B in spending – Detroit Free Press – Dec. 28, 2018
• Senate OKs major changes to Michigan’s ballot initiative process – MLive – Dec. 21, 2018
• Michigan lame duck: Ballot rules may tighten, campaign finance stays with SOS –Bridge Michigan – Dec. 20, 2018
• Brooks Patterson: GOP plan makes petition drives ‘almost impossible’ – The Detroit News – Dec. 19, 2018
• Senate GOP passes A-F grade system for Michigan schools despite superintendent objection – The Detroit News – Dec. 18, 2018
• Bill Requiring A-F grades for schools advances in Michigan – Detroit Free Press – Dec. 13, 2018
• Michigan House passes bill putting new requirements on ballot initiatives – Bridge Michigan – Dec. 13, 2018
• Michigan House Republicans vote to toughen petition drive rules – The Detroit News – Dec. 12, 2018

November 

• Editorial: Kids get grades; so should schools – The Detroit News – Nov. 22, 2018

September

• Jeb Bush touts education reform to West Michigan business leaders – MLive – Sept. 24, 2018
• Jeb Bush pushes AF grades for Michigan schools – The Detroit News – Sept. 24, 2018
• Business leaders gather in Grand Rapids for policy forum – WZZM-TV 13 – Sept. 24, 2018
• Schuette addresses GR Chamber endorsement controversy – MiBiz – Sept. 24, 2018
• Education tops list of forum objectives – Grand Rapids Business Journal – Sept. 28, 2018

2017

June 

• Legislature OKs pension reform over teacher protest – The Detroit News – June 15, 2017
• After fight, lawmakers pass ironclad changes to teacher retirement … – Detroit Free Press – June 15, 2017
• Michigan Senate passes teacher retirement overhaul – MLive – June 15, 2017
• State legislature OKs teacher retirement bill – WOOD-TV 8 – June 15, 2017
• Michigan Senate votes to steer more new teachers into 401(k) – WDIV-TV 4 –June 15, 2017
• The Latest: Michigan House OKs Teacher Retirement Bill – U.S. News & World Report – June 15, 2017
• Michigan legislative panels OK teacher pension changes – Monroe News – ‎June 15, 2017‎
• Teacher retirement reform gets quick approval in House, Senate … – Detroit Free Press – June 14, 2017‎
• Snyder, GOP leaders reach pension-budget deal – The Detroit News – ‎June 13, 2017‎
• Snyder, GOP leaders reach pension-budget deal – The Detroit News – June 13, 2017
• Snyder works budget compromise, coupling teacher reform … – Detroit Free Press – June 13, 2017
• Teacher retirement deal includes boost for some current teachers – MLive  – June 13, 2017
• Governor, key legislators reach deal on teacher retirement, budget –MLive – ‎June 13, 2017‎
• Snyder, legislative leaders strike deal on budget – Crain’s Detroit Business – ‎June 13, 2017‎
• Michigan Leaders Reach Deal on Teacher Pensions, Budget – U.S. News & World Report – June 13, 2017
• Michigan teacher pension reform forging ahead – WILX-TV 6 – June 12, 2017
• Pensions, budget top list before recess – Escanaba Daily Press – ‎June 12, 2017‎
• Tentative deal reached on state budget, teacher pension reform – Lansing State Journal – June 8, 2017

May

• GOP lawmakers forging ahead with teacher pension reform without … – Detroit Free Press – May 23, 2017
• Prevailing wage foes prepare new petition drive – The Detroit News – May 15, 2017
• Debate in Michigan: Teacher pensions or 401(k)? – WZZM-TV 13 – May 8, 2017
• Our Editorial: Pension reform is a vital task – The Detroit News – May 6, 2017

April

• Local legislators talk about unfunded pension liabilities – The Greenville Daily News – April 27, 2017
• Make plumbers sexy again – Crain’s Detroit Business – April 15, 2017

March

• Sweeping Criminal Justice Reforms For Michigan – Mackinac Center for Public Policy – March 10, 2017

2016

September

• Expert: Mich. cities mortgaged ‘future for too long’ – The Detroit News – Sept. 27, 2016
• West Michigan Policy Forum ranks policy initiatives – Grand Rapids Business Journal – Sept. 27, 2016
• The not-so-distant future of robots, tech breakthroughs – MLive – Sept. 26, 2016
• What Gov. Rick Snyder called ‘the dumbest thing you can do’ – MLive – Sept. 26, 2016
• ‘Stop the madness’ call draws applause at business summit on public policy priorities – MLive – Sept. 26, 2016
• Here’s the top policy priority for biz VIPs meeting in Grand Rapids – MLive – Sept. 26, 2016