"The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you are talking about."
-Lent Upson, first director of Citizens Research Council
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In the Weeds
a new podcast for “the wonkier, the nerdier” among us
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Announcing “In the Weeds,” a new occasional podcast from the Citizens Research Council. As described by our podcast host, broadcast legend Guy Gordon, In the Weeds is for “those who are a little wonkier, a little nerdier, and who want to dive deeper” into public policy issues discussed on our regular #FactsMatter podcast.
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Joining Guy in the weeds for the inaugural podcast is Research Council infrastructure analyst Eric Paul Dennis. Eric and Guy piggyback on their conversation in the most recent #FactsMatter podcast to discuss why so many Michigan roads are in such poor condition, the dysfunction in road funding, and why Michigan has been unable to solve this problem for decades. They discuss the outrageous level of complexity involved in accessing the conditions and funding of Michigan’s roads and how Michigan roads stack up, apples-to-apples, against those of other states. They also discuss badly needed reform of Act 51, a 74-year-old “zombie” bill that serves as the primary funding mechanism for Michigan's road program.
Eric makes the case that real reform of Act 51, which could take several years and cost millions, could guarantee that all agencies currently receiving Act 15 funding are held harmless, ensuring that their current level of funding would never decrease under any new road funding formula.
Find all #FactsMatter podcasts on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Catch Up on Recent #FactsMatter Podcasts
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Recent #FactsMatter podcasts include a conversation with Robert Schneider, a senior Research Council associate, about Schneider's recent paper analyzing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which increases state cost-sharing within two major safety net programs, Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The changes could increase Michigan’s spending on these programs by over $1 billion by fiscal year 2032.
Last week, Guy caught up with Eric Paul Dennis (see above) to discuss how Michigan has struggled to provide adequate road funding in the past. The state's road program is now reasonably well-funded. Eric's paper urges policymakers to seize this opportunity to evaluate the performance of Michigan’s 615 road agencies and ensure that funding is distributed and invested effectively.
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Tickets Now Available!
Affordable Sponsorships Remain
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The Research Council in the News
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Schneider: Regroup to update state budget estimate, Detroit News (August 19)
Stadiums in state budget? Michigan court will hear challenge to budget earmarks, Michigan Public (August 18)
Michigan's budget ballooned, but significant cuts likely won't come easy, Detroit News (August 14)
Federal tax policy change could mean $3,151 tax cut for people in Michigan, Gongwer News (August 14)
Senate Appropriations Committee Examines the Ugly Fiscal Consequences of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, MIchigan Senate Democrats (August 14)
Communication breakdown: No end to budget impasse in sight as leaders spend day throwing jabs, Michigan Advance (August 13)
Brinks concerned about shutdown; Hall reiterates House GOP taking their time on budget, Gongwer News (August 13)
Michigan makes prisoners pay for doctor visits. Critics call it a costly mistake, Bridge Michigan (August 11)
Detroit Mayoral Primary Turnout Shows Mass Disillusionment with Local Government, Left Voice (August 9)
Five weeks past budget deadline, GOP Speaker Hall looks to push other leaders out of negotiations, Michigan Public (August 8)
CRC: Michigan ranks 28th in national road funding, Gongwer News (August 8)
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan
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