Mackinac Center Commentaries

Quick! Change the Subject

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:10:00 -0500

By Paul Kersey.

Teamsters President James Hoffa would love to manipulate Tea Partiers for his own purposes.

http://www.mackinac.org/12315

Rejecting State Employee Raise

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:03:00 -0500

The Michigan Information & Research Service (subscription required) reprinted this blog post by Paul Kersey, labor policy director, explaining why it would not be a violation of labor law for the Legislature to reject a 3 percent raise for state employees as some lawmakers claimed.

http://www.mackinac.org/12314

Protecting Small-Business Owners From Stealth Unionization

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:15:00 -0500

Another lawmaker has put his support behind legislation that would end the stealth unionization of small-business owners.

http://www.mackinac.org/12313

Center Analyst Empties 'Brain Drain' Myth

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:22:00 -0500

Research by James Hohman, fiscal policy analyst, shows that claims of Michigan experiencing a "brain drain" are not true.

http://www.mackinac.org/12312

Taking Flight

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Lorie A. Shane.

Dove Academy stresses college. http://www.mackinac.org/12240

Climate Policy Forum

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Join us for a luncheon and expert panel discussion on "The Changing Debate on Climate Change" at Oakland University, March 16. Learn about "Climategate" and what it means for public policy. http://www.mackinac.org/12220

Trade Disagreement

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:15:00 -0500

A Michigan congressman wants to repeal legislation that has been one of the few bright spots in the state's slumping economy over the last decade.

http://www.mackinac.org/12309

Do We Get What We Pay For?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By James M. Hohman.

Michigan legislators should take a pay cut. http://www.mackinac.org/12287

Opinion: Teacher certification tests don’t get the job done

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Mr. Ryan McCarl.

http://www.mackinac.org/12229

Spend less? Tax more? System overhaul?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Lorie A. Shane.

http://www.mackinac.org/12096

Specializing in special education

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Lorie A. Shane.

http://www.mackinac.org/12040

This Just In: Spending More on Higher Education Hurts, Not Helps, State Economy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:50:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh.

The state higher-education establishment and its lobbyists argue that spending more tax dollars on their system will improve Michigan's economy.

The very latest research on this issue, performed not by self-serving beneficiaries of government spending, but by disinterested scholars, finds that "increased spending on higher education generally exhibits a relatively large negative effect" on a state's economy.

http://www.mackinac.org/12306

Center Legal Analyst Testifies on Bills to End Stealth Unionization

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:49:00 -0500

Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director Patrick Wright testified Tuesday on proposed legislation that would end the stealth unionization of home-based day care owners and prevent the same thing from happening to home health care workers.

http://www.mackinac.org/12303

Supposed Benefits of Pension Obligation Bonds Sink With Market

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0500

By James M. Hohman.

Michigan legislators who might consider borrowing billions to prop up government employee pension and post-retirement health care benefits should first look at recent developments in California. That state's massive state pension system, CalPERS, may lower its expectations for investment returns. According to the Wall Street Journal, it is considering a drop in its return expectations from 7.75 percent to as low as 5 or 6 percent.

http://www.mackinac.org/12299

Nicely Played, MEA!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:15:00 -0500

By Paul Kersey.

The MEA gave up nothing in the "Race to the Top" deal. They made no concessions in terms of teacher compensation or performance. They may — depending on just how the law is interpreted — have made privatization, which has saved school districts and taxpayers across the state millions of dollars a subject of collective bargaining again. Oh, and the state hasn’t gotten a nickel in federal funds so far.

http://www.mackinac.org/12293

League of Women Voters' Stance on Energy Policy Hurts Women

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:15:00 -0500

By Russ Harding.

Energy policy that makes it more expensive for developing countries to provide electricity to their citizens only leads to more human suffering and premature death.

http://www.mackinac.org/12295

Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director to Testify Today on Bills to Prohibit Stealth Unionization of Small-Business Owners

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:45:00 -0500

Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director Patrick J. Wright will testify today before the Senate Families and Human Services Committee on proposed legislation to end the forced unionization of home-based day care owners and prohibit any stealth attempts to unionize contractors involved in home health care services. The committee will consider Senate Bills 1173, 1178 and 1179 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 210 of the Farnum Building.

http://www.mackinac.org/12294

State Employee Pay Raise Could Cost Them Jobs

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:04:00 -0500

Arguing against a 3 percent pay hike for state employees is actually an argument in support of saving their jobs, according to an Op-Ed in The Michigan Daily.

http://www.mackinac.org/12292

MED March 9, 2010

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Health poll, regional contract, bond votes. http://www.educationreport.org/12296

No Money? No Problem

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert.

Defunded state agency presses on. http://www.mackinac.org/12282

"Fighting for School Reforms" — Against Whom?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:34:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh.

The Michigan Education Association is taking heat even from some of its friends in the media because of the state's failure to qualify for $400 million in competitive "Race to the Top" federal grants. The blame game is afoot, but perhaps the the most curious comment on the exercise comes from the Democratic Speaker of the House, Rep. Andy Dillon: "House Democrats were fighting for major education reforms long before Race to the Top entered the picture." Fighting against whom?

http://www.mackinac.org/12290

35, 34, 33...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:55:00 -0500

By Paul Kersey.

Wages for state employees have gone up half again as fast as they did for workers throughout the state. Certainly they can afford to go without an across-the-board raise this year.

http://www.mackinac.org/12289

Hat Trick

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Michael Van Beek & Michael Van Beek.

MICHAEL VAN BEEK: Capping benefit costs, not superintendent pay, best for school savings. http://www.mackinac.org/12288

Uncertainty Is Certain

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Nikolai G. Wenzel, Ph.D..

Central planning at odds with entrepreneurship. http://www.mackinac.org/12274

Cadillac Insurance
vs. Healthy Schools

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:59:00 -0500

By Michael Van Beek.

Michigan districts struggle to make payments on employee health insurance that is luxury-class. http://www.mackinac.org/12083

Mackinac Center Commentaries

Quick! Change the Subject

Rejecting State Employee Raise

Protecting Small-Business Owners From Stealth Unionization

Center Analyst Empties 'Brain Drain' Myth

Taking Flight

Climate Policy Forum

Trade Disagreement

Do We Get What We Pay For?

Opinion: Teacher certification tests don’t get the job done

Spend less? Tax more? System overhaul?

Specializing in special education

This Just In: Spending More on Higher Education Hurts, Not Helps, State Economy

Center Legal Analyst Testifies on Bills to End Stealth Unionization

Supposed Benefits of Pension Obligation Bonds Sink With Market

Nicely Played, MEA!

League of Women Voters' Stance on Energy Policy Hurts Women

Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director to Testify Today on Bills to Prohibit Stealth Unionization of Small-Business Owners

State Employee Pay Raise Could Cost Them Jobs

MED March 9, 2010

No Money? No Problem

"Fighting for School Reforms" — Against Whom?

35, 34, 33...

Hat Trick

Uncertainty Is Certain

Cadillac Insurance vs. Healthy Schools

Cadillac Insurance
vs. Healthy Schools