Eric Lupher is president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a nonprofit public affairs research organization
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Articles
Opinion | The first step to social change is easy: fill out the census
Michigan cities need to increase census response rates, or risk losing political representation that can lead to change.
Opinion | Michigan, let’s make a road finance movie
There is a legitimate role for bond financing in road construction and maintenance, but that is to accelerate construction, not as a source of funding. Without a new revenue stream to finance the debt, the state would only be borrowing against future revenue, the guest author writes.
Opinion | Michigan spending more on education, but teacher pay stagnant
Lansing’s failures to adequately manage and fund the state retirement system of teachers is chewing up the small annual increases in the state budget for K-12 education.
Opinion | Special assessments are a tax by another name
You probably don’t know you’re paying it. You probably shouldn’t be paying it.
Opinion | No teacher shortage yet in Michigan, but the talent pipeline is leaking
Fewer college students are considering careers in teaching, and new teachers flee the profession at a high rate. Michigan needs to address those issues.
Opinion | Why computers alone can’t fix Michigan gerrymandering
Why do we need a redistricting commission made up of fallible, possibly biased people to redraw Michigan’s political boundaries? Can’t a computer do that? Eric Lupher explains why you need both
Opinion | The primary election is over: Let’s talk about public health
It doesn’t get the attention of an issue like crumbling roads, but public health is a vital part of our infrastructure, and we need to invest in it.
Opinion | Challenge to Michigan redistricting initiative show need for reform
Putting reviews of ballot initiatives at the end of the process creates headaches and expensive misfires, says the president of the Citizens Research Council.
Opinion | Michigan term limits sounded good, but they’ve failed
Michigan has had a quarter century of experience with term limits, but the promises of a more dynamic democracy never came to fruition.
Reining in ‘special authorities’ that don’t represent the people
Some government authorities representing Michigan counties or towns are allowed to raise taxes or issue debt even when their voting members do not equally represent the residents of that region.
Despite economic growth, Michigan budget to face steep challenges
A new report shows over $2 billion in potential General Fund revenue will be diverted or dedicated to other promised programs by 2023. Add an economy that will inevitably cool, and Michigan will soon be facing serious budget challenges.
Want to improve city finances? Give counties more to do.
Taking a more regional approach to local government would improve the efficiency and economics of service delivery. Counties are in a better position to drive technology, elections, tax assessments and other back office functions.
Taking a hammer, not a scalpel, to how Michigan cities are funded
Small policy changes won’t change the downward spiral of local governments across Michigan. Here are a few alternatives.
A call for Michigan redistricting reform
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision shows that citizens, not politicians, have the ultimate power to demand fair legislative boundaries.
