I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
With unemployment at 15.2 percent and the tax revenue needed to run the state disappearing , Phil Power of the Center for Michigan says it’s time to “think the unthinkable.”
What about bankruptcy? It seems the rules governing the practice are changing before our eyes; witness GM’s and Chrysler’s rapid exits from bankruptcy. If the Legislature and the governor can’t fix our state, why not a bankruptcy judge?
In an article published on Livingstondaily.com, Power, a University of Michigan Regent and former newspaper publisher, praised House speaker Andy Dillon for proposing to combine the public employee health plans. He also praised Robert Bobb, the man appointed by the governor to serve as emergency financial manager for the Detroit public schools.
Bobb has wasted no time. He’s closed schools, fired clumsy and corrupt administrators, and canceled nonperforming or corrupt contracts. Now, he’s considering putting the entire school system through Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code. This may enable him to renegotiate union contracts, get rid of legacy pension and health-care costs, and shape the system up in ways not otherwise possible. That’s certainly an example of thinking the unthinkable.
So why not follow suit … and appoint an emergency financial manager for the state of Michigan? If it’s working for DPS and if Lansing can’t summon the will to get our financial house in order, why not try stronger medicine?
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter