Category: Michigan

Michigan Gov. Whitmer to Sign $4.8 Billion Spending Package

The Center Square
Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign a $4.8 billion spending plan into law to focus on water, broadband internet, and housing.

“The Building Michigan Together Plan makes bold, bipartisan investments in the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michigan families, including clean water, smooth roads, fast internet, and beautiful parks,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I am so proud that the Michigan Legislature and I were able to come together to get this done. This bill will make a real difference in our communities, support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and set up Michigan’s economy for decades of success. It is a testament to what is possible when we put Michiganders first.”

However, she didn’t say when she would sign it. Her office hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment. 

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Michigan Judge Tosses Zuckerbucks Lawsuit over 2020 Election Funding

The Center Square

A Michigan judge has tossed a lawsuit alleging Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson illegally accepted private money to swing the 2020 presidential election in favor of President Joe Biden.

First filed in October 2020, the litigation claimed that then-Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg swung the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden by awarding millions of dollars to local governments in Democrat strongholds via his Chicago-based nonprofit the Center for Technology & Civic Life.

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer, Lawmakers Strike $4.8 Billion Spending Deal for Water, Broadband, Housing

The Center Square

Michigan lawmakers struck a $4.8 billion spending deal later than 10 p.m. on Wednesday with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“These are tough times for families, small businesses, and communities, and this bipartisan supplemental will help grow our economy, create jobs, and invest in every region of our state,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I look forward to signing this supplemental when it reaches my desk and continuing in this spirit of collaboration to pass another balanced, bipartisan budget that delivers on the kitchen-table issues.”

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Michigan Parents Demand Resignation of School Board and Administrators

The Center Square
student and teacher reading together

A group of parents in Rochester, Mich., are demanding a dramatic change in school leadership.

Parents expressed their anger at Rochester Community Public Schools administrators and school board members during a Monday meeting. Parents are demanding the school board fire Superintendent Robert Shaner, then tender their resignations.

The parents’ pique was prompted by revelations school employees were monitoring parents’ social media accounts, compiling dossiers of publicly disgruntled mothers and fathers, and phoning parents’ employers, which, in the case of Elena Dinverno, resulted in her firing.

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Catholic Charity Can Remain Open After Court Found Michigan Violated First Amendment

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Catholic Charities West Michigan will remain open after state officials agreed under court order to pay the nonprofit’s attorney’s fees and acknowledged that taking actions against the charity for its beliefs would violate the First Amendment.

Catholic Charities prioritizes placing children up for adoption or in foster care with a married mother and father. The group filed a lawsuit with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) after Michigan officials gave the nonprofit the ultimatum to either close its adoption and foster care ministry or change its policy prioritizing a married mother and father to receive a child.

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Gov. Whitmer Vetoes $2.5 Billion in Tax Relief

The Center Square

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a GOP bill that aimed to provide $2.5 billion in tax breaks by dropping the personal income tax rate from 4.25% to 3.9%, saying it would blow a “hole” in her $74 billion budget.

“It would force tax hikes on families or deep and painful cuts to services, hurt our children’s ability to catch up in school, force layoffs of cops and firefighters, and kneecap our ability to keep fixing crumbling roads,” Whitmer wrote in her veto letter.

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Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency Didn’t Screen 5,508 Workers; Some Weren’t Trained Before Working

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The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) failed to screen 5,508 workers before giving them access to software that disbursed $39 billion of taxpayer money since March 2020.

An audit released Friday from the Office of Auditor (OAG) General Doug Ringler marked four “material conditions” – the most severe rating – asserting the UIA failed to take multiple safeguards to prevent employees from looting taxpayer money.

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Rochester Schools Paid $188,750 to Settle Lawsuit over District’s Dossier of Critical Parents

The Center Square

Rochester Community Schools (RCS) paid $188,750 to settle a lawsuit accusing the district of collecting a dossier of parents critical of school policies and calling one parent’s employer, leading to the parent’s dismissal.

The Center Square reported the lawsuit in February but couldn’t find the settlement amount except through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

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Michigan Redistricting Places Incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Dan Kildee in Competitive New 8th District

Aaron Gulbransen

Michigan’s redistricting process has placed incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Dan Kildee in a competitive new 8th Congressional District.

Prior to redistricting changing the numbers and lines, Kildee was running in the old 5th district, a district he has represented since 2013. Kildee is the Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democrat Caucus.

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Michigan Parent Sues School District for Thwarting FOIA Requests

The Center Square

Rochester Community School District in Michigan has received an “incomplete” grade for its response to a Freedom of Information Act request from a parent seeking curriculum materials pertaining to a course titled “History of Ethnic and Gender Studies.”  

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation announced Tuesday they were suing the school district for withholding curriculum materials from two FOIA requests made by Carol Beth Litkouhi, the mother of two Rochester district schoolchildren.

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Michigan Attorney General Nessel: Report Refutes Allegation State Undercounted Nursing Home COVID Deaths

The Center Square

A January 2022 Office of Auditor General’s (OAG) report alleging Michigan undercounted COVID nursing home deaths by 42%, or 2,386 is being refuted by an analysis shared by Attorney General Dana Nessel. 

Nessel released a further analysis tracked by the Health, Education, and Family Services Division within the Department of Attorney General.

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Whitmer Kidnapping Trial Delayed After COVID Contraction

The Center Square
Gretchen Whitmer

The trial of the four men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 has been delayed after an “essential trial participant” tested positive for COVID-19.

A court document filed Sunday by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker says the court hopes to reconvene Thursday. The trial kicked off on March 8 in Grand Rapids.

“Assuming no other complications, the court hopes to re-convene trial Thursday,” Jonker wrote.

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Michigan Job Recovery Ranks Near Bottom of National List

The Center Square

Job recovery in Michigan continues to rank among the worst in the country, according to a recently released report.

Michigan had the sixth-largest number of claims filed last week compared to 2019. The report, published by the personal finance website WalletHub, also ranks Michigan 47th in biggest increase in number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of Feb. 28, 2022 compared to the week of March 1, 2020. Only Kentucky (48); New Jersey (49); Kansas (50); and District of Columbia (51) fared worse.

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Michigan House Approves Cutting 27-Cent Gas Tax for Six Months

The Center Square
Andrew Beeler of Michigan

The Michigan House on Wednesday voted 63-39 on a bill aiming to suspend the state’s 27.2-cent per gallon fuel tax for six months.

For the first time since 2008, gas prices broke $4 per gallon nationwide.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, House Bill 5570 would suspend the state fuel tax on gas, diesel, and alternative fuels starting April 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022.

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Judge Expected to Render Opinion ‘Any Day’ on Moving Line 5 Case from Federal to Michigan Court

The Center Square

As gasoline prices soar and inflation seems poised to rise above 8%, Michiganders are squinting to detect any signs of economic hope on the horizon.

Among the variables drawing their attention is whether Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is successful in closing the Line 5 pipeline across a five-mile stretch of the Straits of Mackinac. The Canadian energy company Enbridge is suing the governor to keep the pipeline open.

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s Campaign Enters Legal Battle over 35,000 Signatures

The Center Square
Gretchen Whitmer

 More than 35,000 signatures are on the line for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s reelection campaign as a result of a legal battle over the size of union logos printed on ballot petitions.

In February 2022, the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on party lines and failed to approve a ballot initiative petition for the group Raise the Wage because Republicans said the typeface union logo printed was too small.

This appears to be a new disagreement, as court documents say the entity has previously approved documents with the small union logo. 

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer: $400 Checks Should Arrive by May 9

The Center Square
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

A $400 check for each insured vehicle in Michigan should hit state residents’ mailboxes by May 9 at the latest.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) will complete the transfer of $3 billion in surplus funds to Michigan’s auto insurers this week.

“These $400 refunds are game-changers for so many Michigan families,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I called for these refunds because I am committed to lowering costs for Michiganders and putting money back in people’s pockets. They are possible because we worked across the aisle to pass bipartisan auto insurance reform, and we will keep working together to grow our economy and build a state where families can thrive.”

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$800M Opioid Settlement to Start Paying Out in 2022

The Center Square
pill bottles spilled onto a table

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined local leaders to announce the next steps of Michigan’s anticipated receipt of $800 million opioid settlements over the next 18 years. 

The settlement includes the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

“I took legal action once I took office to try to recoup money for the devastating impact that the opioid epidemic has had on the communities across our state,” Nessel said in a statement. “I am pleased to see our work pay off with this historic settlement that will bring Michigan communities millions of dollars to support abatement efforts. I know that no amount of money will make whole the thousands of Michigan families impacted by opioids, but this is an important victory in a hard-fought battle.”

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Michigan Education Department Touts Video That Makes False Claims About School Funding

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The Michigan Department of Education posted a document on its website that encourages people to watch a YouTube video about systemic racism, but it contains inaccurate information about finances in the state’s public school system.

The document was published in July 2020 by an entity called the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council two months after George Floyd was killed in Minnesota by a police officer, and while riots were taking place in many U.S. cities. The document promotes and links to a video titled “Systemic Racism Explained,” telling visitors it “is a good place to start.” But the video suggests that Michigan school districts which service low-income communities get less funding than others. The claim is not accurate; the reverse is true.

The video tells a story of two youths – an African-American child named Jamal and a white child named Kevin – and how their school districts are funded. The fictional students are said to live a few streets from each other.

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Nonpartisan Audit Reveals Michigan Campaign Irregularities

The Center Square

Michigan voting rolls were not properly updated prior to the November 2020 election, according to an audit released Friday by the Michigan Office of the Auditor General.

The audit of the Bureau of Elections concludes Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office did not adhere to state election law by properly updating and reconciling Michigan’s qualified voter roll. This oversight, according to the audit, increased the risk of ineligible voters casting ballots. Additionally, the audit identified discrepancies and inconsistencies in Benson’s statements in defense of her department’s internal post-election audits.

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Michigan Joins Bipartisan Investigation into Social Media App TikTok

Peter D'Abrosca

Michigan’s Secretary of State Thursday announced that the state will join a bipartisan investigation into popular Chinese-owned social media company TikTok.

“Recent reports on social media’s impact on the mental and physical health of young people raise serious questions among attorneys general across the nation. Ultimately, we are concerned about protecting our youth,” Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) said in a press release. “I am proud to join my colleagues in this investigation. Given this is an ongoing investigation, I will not be discussing any details beyond this announcement.” 

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Michigan High School Assistant Principal Charged for Alleged Child Sex Abuse

Peter D'Abrosca

A high school assistant principal who stands accused of sex crimes with a 10-year-old family member has been suspended with pay from his position at the school as he awaits trial, according to several reports. 

“Melven Conway, the assistant principal at Ecorse High School was arrested at the school Monday morning on criminal sexual conduct charge,” WJBK reports. “The crimes allegedly happened about eight years ago and involved a relative of Conway who was 10 years old at the time.”

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bill Letting Part-Time Workers to Keep Aid

The Center Square

A bipartisan bill, intended to clear confusion over an apparent contradiction between state and federal law over who actually qualified to receive benefits during the pandemic, is now law.

Senate Bill 445 amends the Michigan Employment Security Act to allow certain unemployed workers eligible for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to keep benefits.

“As we continue to grow our economy, my top priority is working toward bipartisan solutions to save Michiganders time and money,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement commemorating her signing the bill. “I’ve always said that Michiganders should not be penalized for doing what was right at the time they applied for federal pandemic benefits. The changes in this legislation will streamline our unemployment system and provide relief to Michiganders who needed these federal benefits to pay their bills, keep food on the table, and continue supporting small businesses.”

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General Motors, MEDC Aim to Fool Michigan Taxpayers with Bait and Switch: Analyst

The Center Square

General Motors (GM) garnered national headlines when it promised to invest $6.5 billion in Michigan, but the people negotiating the deal’s claw back provisions might only require GM meet half of that investment and 80% of the original job creation promise, despite taxpayers still footing an $824 million subsidy.

When in front of the press, GM and Michigan promised the factory would support 4,000 jobs and retain another 1,000 – a cost of about $206,000 per job created, and if it failed, Michigan could claw back a sizeable portion of that money.

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Rochester Schools Collect Dossier, Call Employers on Critical Parents

The Center Square

Rochester Community School (RCS) officials were sued for compiling a dossier on parents who commented negatively on the school’s virtual learning policy. One official even called a parent’s employer, which possibly resulted in the parent’s termination.

Parent Elena Dinverno sued the district in 2021, claiming school officials called her place of work in the fall of 2020, and told her employer Dinverno was part of a group threatening the school district. She was fired in December 2020.

The Detroit News first reported the story.

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Commentary: Michigan Attorney General Nessel Abandoned Victims in Favor of the Shady Trial Lawyer Pipeline

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Public officials have a horrible habit of diverting money away from victims.  Consider how state Attorneys General used the state opioid settlement with McKinsey, the consulting powerhouse, to send $15 million to their own National Association of Attorneys General.  Or think of how these same Attorneys General hand out lucrative public contracts to prominent trial lawyers under the guise of consumer protection, contracts that are often missing basic protections (including basic ethics protections) and help propel millions in highly partisan political giving.

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Lawsuit Alleges Michigan Secretary of State Allowed Facebook to Sway 2020 Election

Peter D'Abrosca

A conservative group in Michigan is duking it out in court with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) claiming that the elected official allowed money from Silicon Valley titan Facebook to have a partisan impact on the state’s 2020 elections. 

“This is what happened in 2020,” co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition Marian Sheridan said in a press release.  “Zuck Bucks, which is private money, was used by elected officials through public entities to promote voting, but only promoted among selected potential voter groups.  Not to all citizens.  Every voter should have received the benefit of a fair portion of the funds unfairly used by elected officials.  They cannot selectively promote anything.”

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Michigan Democrat Representative Elissa Slotkin Commands a Substantial Financial Advantage in the Race for State’s 7th Congressional District

Aaron Gulbransen

NRCC targeted Democrat incumbent U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin has a towering financial advantage in the race for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District seat.

Slotkin has raised $3,476,331.42 for the 2022 election cycle and is currently sitting on $4,508,719.04 cash on hand. Republican state Senator and U.S. Army veteran Tom Barrett has raised $311,971.14 with $254,171.87 cash on hand. Barrett declared for the race in November of 2021.

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bills to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices

The Center Square

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed into law three bills aiming to reduce the price of prescription drugs.

“I am proud to sign this bipartisan legislation that helps us lower the cost of prescription drugs,” Whitmer said in a statement. “For too long, unlicensed pharmacy benefit managers have been able to engage in practices that drive up costs for Michiganders whose lives and health depend on critical prescription drugs like insulin. This bill brings much-needed transparency to our healthcare system and is a testament to what we can do when we put Michiganders first.”

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Two Incumbent Democrats Vie for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, Leave the 10th Congressional District a Seat Open

Aaron Gulbransen

Democratic U.S. Representatives Andy Levin and Haley Stevens have announced their plans to run in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, setting up an incumbent-versus-incumbent primary. This leaves Michigan’s 10th Congressional District seat open.

Redistricting changed the district lines and numbering, significantly affected Michigan’s 10th and 11th Congressional Districts, and likely led to Levin and Stevens running against each other in a Democrat primary. The new district lines, drawn by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, took MI-11 from an R+2 partisan rating to a D+15, according to Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight.

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Kalamazoo Deputy Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Knife-Wielding Man

Peter D'Abrosca

A police officer in Kalamazoo County who shot and killed a knife-wielding suspect in a gas station parking lot has been cleared of any wrongdoing after a standard post-shooting investigation, as officials say he acted lawfully in self-defense. 

“The events of Oct. 4 were incredibly tragic,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting reportedly said Tuesday. “They forever changed the lives of those personally involved, their families and loved ones, our law enforcement officers, and our community.”

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Audit Called for Environmental Protection Agency Response to Benton Harbor Water Contamination

The Center Square

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is being audited over its response to lead-contaminated water lines in Benton Harbor.

The investment was announced in a memo from the Office of Inspector General Director Michael Davis, EPA Environmental Investment and Infrastructure. The letter says the audit aims “to determine the extent to which the EPA followed its 2016 elevation policy memorandum” to fix Benton Harbor’s drinking water.

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EPA Pledges $1 Billion for Great Lakes ‘Areas of Concern’

The Center Square

The Biden administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have announced a $1 billion cleanup fund for 22 of 25 Great Lakes “Areas of Concern,” or AOCs.

President Joe Biden announced the cleanup funding during a press event on Thursday in Lorain, Ohio. According to Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the president will “deliver remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers for the American people by investing in clean-up and restoration efforts in the Great Lakes region and surrounding waterways.”

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Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fined Port Huron $6,300 over a ‘General Feeling,’ City Manager Says

The Center Square

House Oversight Committee testimony accused the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) of needlessly fining the city of Port Huron $6,300 on Aug. 3, 2020, claiming the penalty was based on little more than a “general feeling.”

Port Huron paid between $15,000 to $20,000 to fight a “meritless” MIOSHA fine that at one time could have cost just $3,000, City Manager James Freed said. Despite the city spending more than $150,000 on cleaning and a “comprehensive” COVID plan, MIOSHA still fined them.

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