Michigan’s high court will hear oral arguments Wednesday on whether Republican efforts to pass the ballot measure, then gut it, violated the constitution. That does not mean the court will decide the matter, at least right now.
The high court is hearing arguments Wednesday on whether Republicans in Lansing acted lawfully in passing a paid sick leave bill last year before neutering it. The court may offer its opinion, or it may not, raising the specter of a formal lawsuit.
Republicans are under pressure to counter Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 45-cent gas tax proposal to raise $2.5 billion for roads without raising taxes. Among ideas being floated: local gas taxes and pension bonds, both of which carry risks.
The youngest Michigan Speaker in a century, Chatfield says humility gained through reading Scripture has helped him navigate the political minefields of divided government. The biggest test of his leadership skills is still to come.
Elections experts say Michigan is now ahead of the curve in making sure state elections are protected against tampering. But some threats still keep security officials up at night.
The state's new prosecution team delivered a scathing rebuke of how the investigation was handled by former Attorney General Bill Schuette. But their promises to deliver justice for the people of Flint were greeted by skepticism and even grief.
The high court ruled Thursday that federal courts have no role to play in ensuring states avoid drawing political lines that favor one political party over another. The decision kills a lower court decision requiring Michigan Republicans to redraw lines for 2020.
The high court ruled Thursday that federal courts won’t handle cases challenging partisan gerrymandering. In Michigan, Republicans applauded the decision, and Democrats lampooned it.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has her own hurdles selling a gas tax hike. But as she notes, Republican leaders have yet to show how they would raise the more than $2 billion needed for roads as the Legislature breaks for summer recess.
The Right to Life-backed group is seeking to ban a common second-trimester procedure known medically as “dilation and evacuation.” A second group is seeking a “fetal heartbeat” ban. Both ballot efforts carry no exceptions for rape or incest.
A particleboard facility has produced a mini building boom, with affordable housing, condos and maybe even a boutique hotel planned for this northern Michigan town. A local community college, meanwhile, is helping train future workers.
Charges against the state’s former top doctor and former health director have been dropped but could be refiled, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says.
Researchers in Michigan and elsewhere are studying new ways to increase the lifespan of roads and bridges. Could recycled materials and new methods of mixing asphalt be the future? See our slideshow.
House Republicans intend to propose replacing Michigan’s 6 percent sales tax on gasoline purchases with an equal amount of gas tax, dedicating the revenue to roads. Some Democrats say they’re concerned about the impact of losing sales tax revenue on schools and local governments.
Arlan Meekhof, who has consulted for marijuana clients since leaving the Legislature, wrote in February that he spoke with the pot board chair about his clients, emails show. That raised red flags among state officials.
Attorney General Dana Nessel claims the Republican law, which placed new restrictions on the statewide ballot initiative process, is unconstitutional. The GOP now is going to court in a bid to force the Secretary of State to ignore Nessel’s opinion.
