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Nov 21, 2024 | 
legalnews.com | Michael D. LaFaive
By Michael D. LaFaiveMackinac Center for Public Policy
A contentious political season leaves many people exhausted and
despairing that any good can come out of the public sphere. But there are still
many bright and happy notes to consider. The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship
is still a powerful, creative force, as exemplified recently by a conference held
in California.
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Nov 5, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | Michael D. LaFaive
A contentious political season leaves many people exhausted and despairing that any good can come out of the public sphere. But there are still many bright and happy notes to consider. The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is still a powerful, creative force, as exemplified recently by a conference held in California.
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Oct 30, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | Michael J. Reitz |Michael D. LaFaive |Jarrett Skorup |Derk Wilcox
This article originally appeared in The Detroit News June 25, 2024. When running for governor in 2018, Gretchen Whitmer made a remarkable pledge, promising to open the governor's office to the Freedom of Information Act. “Michiganders should know when and what their governor is working on,” she wrote. On June 23, we reached day 2,000 of the Whitmer administration. She has yet to keep her promise. Every state has a public records law that allows the people to see what their government is doing.
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Oct 16, 2024 | 
michigancapitolconfidential.com | Michael D. LaFaive |Scott McClallen
Last week, we highlighted problems with the Union Charter Township government, including a pervasive anti-growth attitude toward new developments. One family’s struggle with local leaders illustrates the extent of the township’s overreach. The brothers William, Richard, Ronald and Robert Ervin own land in the township. These local developers have twice been kept from developing their property by local government.
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
michigancapitolconfidential.com | Michael D. LaFaive |Scott McClallen
Commentary There’s something wrong in Union Charter Township: Part I Micromanagement by local government stifles growth, developers say Mackinac Center for Public Policy The Mackinac Center has spent years challenging government overreach, but it’s rare to find a local government that continually hinders growth.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | Jarrett Skorup |VANCE GINN |James M. Hohman |Michael D. LaFaive
When I was 25 years old, I was married with a newborn and a total annual household income of less than $35,000. But my wife and I managed to pay monthly college loans, cover our expenses, tithe and save and invest more than 25% of our money. And in the years since, we’ve never spent even half our income on essential living expenses (housing, food, transportation, technology, etc.). Not everyone is as fortunate as we were.
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Aug 7, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | VANCE GINN |James M. Hohman |Michael D. LaFaive
Michigan is spending money at an unsustainable rate, and the state’s latest state budget shows why this can’t go on. The state-funds budget for fiscal year 2024-25 is $46.8 billion, a 0.4% decline from the previous year. While this amount is below the Sustainable Michigan Budget level, it hides deeper problems threatening the state’s economic future. Lawmakers are spending less because of a lack of tax revenue, not a lack of desire. Lower revenue stems from a slow-growing state economy.
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Jun 18, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | VANCE GINN |Michael D. LaFaive |James M. Hohman
Michigan’s economic and fiscal future hinges on adopting sustainable budgeting practices. Insights from other states show the tangible benefits of fiscal restraint, efficiency, and lower taxes. By examining how other states have managed their budgets, Michigan can learn valuable lessons in improving its fiscal health and thus secure a prosperous future. In 2023, Americans for Tax Reform launched its Sustainable Budget Project.
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Jun 17, 2024 | 
mackinac.org | Michael D. LaFaive |Todd Nesbit
Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently signed a budget agreement that would raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco and vaping products, the cigarette tax will increase by $1.25, to $5.00 per pack. Lawmakers should rethink their plan. We estimate that nearly one-third of all cigarettes consumed in Maryland in 2022 came to market through tax avoidance and evasion, or what we call smuggling.
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Jun 5, 2024 | 
detroitnews.com | Michael D. LaFaive |Rebekah Paxton
Michael LaFaive and Rebekah Paxton | The Detroit NewsA proposal to drastically raise the minimum wage will not be on Michigan’s November ballot. The Michigan Supreme Court decided last week to let stand a decision by the Board of State Canvassers not to certify the proposal. If voters had approved such a measure, it would have hiked the state’s minimum hourly pay each year until it reaches $15 in 2027.
