Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Votes: Bill Would Lessen Burdensome Mandates on Landscape Architects

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

Workers are currently forced to have seven years experience, take approved classes and provide references to the state

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/25/2013

The State of Michigan was admitted into the union in 1837 – for most of that time, landscape architects were able to work without having to jump through a bunch of hoops with the government. That changed a few years ago, but a bill in the State House would repeal some of those requirements. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18669

Mystery Contribution Kept ‘Dues Skim’ Alive

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

Union gave dummy employee $12,000

By Jack Spencer | 5/25/2013

The status of the $12,000 the union gave to the dummy employer to help keep the “home health care skim” alive an extra 17 months remains a mystery. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18671

School District Denies Teacher's Claim of Bias in Evaluations

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

MEA member says district using evaluations for 'punitive' reasons

By Tom Gantert | 5/24/2013

A Port Huron Northern High School teacher says the district where she works is using evaluations for "punitive" reasons and getting rid of teachers with the highest ratings over those with lower ratings.

If true, the district may have been breaking the law.

The district superintendent, however, says the claim is "absolutely, positively" untrue. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18668

Head Start a False Start

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

Follow the research to help low-income students

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/24/2013

The House and Senate budgets call for more money for Great Start, which funds preschool for 4-year-olds in the state. But the bulk of the research on large, wide-ranging programs like Great Start and the national Head Start show that the results are dubious at best. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18661

Lawmakers Looking At MEDC Transparency

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/23/2013

MEDC is a quasi-governmental and private entity that is supposed to spur economic activity and promote the State of Michigan. Although the amount of funds MEDC spends annually has been significantly reduced under Gov. Rick Snyder, it continues to have access to millions of taxpayer dollars. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18664

Commentary: Detroit's Fiscal Emergency Cannot Wait; Manager Needs to Fix Administration

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

By James M. Hohman | 5/23/2013

The city’s auditors found that city human resources records weren’t consistent about when people were hired and when they left their jobs. Nor does the city reconcile their bank statements in a timely fashion, track its inventory well, or keep track of its capital assets. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18594

No Free Lunch: $15 an Hour Fast Food Workers Would Lead to Lost Jobs

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 5/22/2013

Economists and business experts agree that if government mandated that fast food workers got $15 an hour, jobs would be lost and services would be cut back. The least skilled would be hurt the most. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18659

Commentary: Medicaid Expansion Wrong Even with Reforms

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh | 5/22/2013

This bad law is vulnerable on many fronts: legal, political, administrative, technological, perverseness. While outright repeal is unlikely under the Obama administration, it is possible Congress — including the Reid Senate — will be forced to open the law for amendment, at which point who knows what favorable changes the then-current climate of public opinion would allow (or demand). http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18649

District Spent $20K Per Student, Had Rodents In Schools, Holes In Ceiling and Walls

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

Student: 'We had to worry if something was going to crawl on us ... if the ceiling was going to fall in on us'

By Audrey Spalding | 5/21/2013

Despite the Highland Park School District spending $19,634 per pupil in 2010-11, which was the highest in the state, the schools were so mismanaged that they had rodents in the classrooms, holes in the ceilings and walls, and horrendous filth in the bathrooms. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18520

Commentary: Movie Made in Israel Gets Michigan Tax Dollars

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/21/2013

Michigan taxpayers will be providing corporate welfare to a production company outside the state for a film shot entirely in another country. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18652

Loss of Funding Not To Blame For School District Failures

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:30:00 -0500

For example, Albion Public Schools receives more per pupil than ever, yet it's closing its high school

By Tom Gantert | 5/20/2013

While the Michigan Education Association continues to blame state budget cuts on the fiscal crisis facing some schools, many districts are getting more money per pupil but face dramatic drops in students that lead to problems. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18655

Attorney: Taylor District Violated Contract Law to Lock In 10-Year Agreement

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:29:00 -0500

Union 'security clause' forces teachers to pay dues or fees for a decade as a condition of employment

By Jack Spencer | 5/20/2013

Taylor Public Schools and its faculty union might have bypassed more than just the right-to-work law with their agreement earlier this year, according to a motion filed in the case. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18654

Ending Forfeiture Abuse: How States Can Be Tough on Crime and Respect Property Rights

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Civil asset forfeiture is one of the greatest threats to private property rights in our nation today. Law enforcement can take your property without even charging you with a crime. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=NXuLkVg6HXs