"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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January  24. 2025

Happy New Year! If 2024 slipped away before you had a chance to support our work, it's never too late. Click below to help combat misinformation and support fact-based, non-partisan policies for a better Michigan. 

The Michigan legislature has exhibited dysfunctional behavior from the perspective of good government. The just concluded legislative session, in which the Democratic party enjoyed control of the governor’s office, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, is the most recent example. Similar patterns were evident in earlier sessions when the Republican party had this trifecta of control.

Over the past several years we’ve watched legislative leaders scheduling minimal session days. In the interest of one party’s priorities, bills were pushed without any substantive hearings. Controversial bills are enacted with appropriations attached to protect them from the threat of referendum.

These signs of dysfunction are driven both by the hyper-partisan politics that now characterizes America’s two-party political system and misguided concepts about the role of the legislative process. Notwithstanding evidence of cross-party collaboration evident on less controversial matters, the desire and ability to work as statesmen seems to have been lost.

Structures Adding to Dysfunction:

 -- Lack of Either a Professional or Part-Time Legislature

 -- Lame Duck Sessions

 -- Lack of Transparency 

 -- Hyper-Partisan Elections

 -- "Referendum-Proofing" bills

More Analysis from our Blogs:

• Now is a Good Time for Lawmakers to Tackle Local Government Finance Reform
• Popular, But Expensive, Weight-Loss Drugs Create Major Questions for Policymakers
• Michigan Urgently Needs a Watershed-based Approach to Address Water Pollution and Urban Flooding
• 2025 Brings Final Detroit Public Schools Debt Repayment

Three February Detroit Events Feature the Citizens Research Council

We hope you can make one or all!

Three upcoming events in Detroit are designed to let people know who the Citizens Research Council is, what we do, and how everyone can use our public policy research, analyses, and expertise to help make Detroit and Michigan better. We will give an overview of Detroit-focused research and we hope to hear the concerns and questions from people in the room, as we move into a new year with a divided Legislature, a Detroit mayor's race and a host of challenges and opportunities. 

All the events can be found here: https://crcmich.org/event.

 -- The first gathering is two weeks away, on Saturday, February 8, from 3 - 8 pm: an intimate, informal wine and cheese reception hosted by and at the home of Research Council Director Nathan Benedict. Registration is required, and space is limited. Learn more and RSVP here.

-- The second gathering is two days later, Monday, February 10 from 12 - 2 pm: Community Conversations with the Research Council - a luncheon and exchange of ideas at The Skillman Foundation. Registration is required. Learn more and RSVP here.

-- The third February gathering in Detroit will be Wednesday, February 19, from 6-7:30 pm, at Bas Bleu, with charcuterie and a cash bar, hosted by Research Council Director Aya Waller-Bey. Seating is limited, and registration is required. Learn more and RSVP here.

Click here for information on all three events here: https://crcmich.org/event.

House speaker wants to pull back business tax credits to pay for roads. Experts say it won’t be so simple, Crain’s Detroit (January 23)

Fiscal Experts: 2025 is a great time to give local governments some options on funding, MAC (January 23)

Bigger ideas needed to really fix Michigan’s damn roads, Bridge Michigan (January 21)

While Both Sides Blather On About “Fixing The Damn Roads” – Michigan Road Funding Ranks 30th Nationally, Thumbwind (January 21)

Michigan making record interest income on mountain of cash, Detroit News (January 20)

How Michigan is trying to recapture its innovation mojo, Michigan Advance (January 11)

Gretchen Whitmer’s Chance for Wide-Ranging Legacy Derailed by Botched Legislative Session, ProPublica (January 10). Also appeared - Alternet (January 12)

Senate Fiscal Agency: Michigan’s revenue forecast may be stronger than expected, WKAR Public Radio (January 7). Also appeared - WCMU Public Media (January 7)

Restrictions on 2 MSU trustees accused of misconduct lifted; their future remains unclear, Lansing State Journal (January 6)

Indiana’s website template is reminder of what Michigan isn’t doing, Michigan Counties (January 3)

Opinion: Personnel is key to Detroit economic policy, Bridge Detroit (January 2)

Detroit school district sues state in effort to continue tax to pay debt, Detroit News (January 1)