Legislative

Kicking off the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference, speakers from across the political spectrum repeatedly returned to the conference’s central theme: “the quest for common ground.”

Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) told the media that she believed she was removed from all of her committees for pushing the Speaker too hard on whether to investigate any connection between Jeffrey Epstein and the Interlochen camp near Traverse City.

After nearly eight hours of session, lawmakers, staff members and reporters stared at the House voting board, waiting to see which legislator would give Republicans the vote they needed to pass their property tax reform package.

Lansing will empty out next week for the annual week-long migration to Mackinac Island, prompting pundit questions about the theme and feel expected at the 2026 policy conference in the long shadow of national politics, as well as the chatter of changing who is — or isn't — elected in state politics.

All Democratic state senators who can return next year are supporting Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton)'s leadership bid in the caucus and are co-hosting a "Leadership Lunch" for him on June 4.

Rep. Matt Longjohn (D-Portage) hit a grand slam and Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) went 5-for-5 at the plate to lead the Democrats to their first Legislative Softball Game win in four years.

The 2026 Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference will host a debate between the three Democrats running for U.S. Senate and will play host to the policy discussion over data centers.

'Tis the season. While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was sharing her words of wisdom during a commencement speech for the graduates of Michigan State University this week, 1,300 miles west, the president of Colorado University was doing the same thing.

Former House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) will finish his term as minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) announced Tuesday, saying his predecessor is “highly respected and many Democrats have been coming to me recently saying they had made a mistake in changing leaders.”

Being a politician means meeting with people, talking with people, and being scrutinized by people. It can all seem akin to the celebrity fishbowl, with the extra step of being held to account by the people who elected you.

As Congress left Washington for spring break amid a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), celebrity tabloid TMZ urged readers to submit photos of lawmakers on vacation — a move media experts say reflects a long-standing overlap between politics and tabloid culture.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) said he was “feeling charitable” when he helped move a bill, HB 4044, to designate the wood duck as Michigan's official state duck, taking a jab at bill sponsor Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) in the process.

Family caregivers are quietly propping up the nation’s health care system to the tune of nearly $1 trillion a year, and Michigan lawmakers are looking to take another crack at easing the burden.

Michiganders whose workplace doesn't offer retirement benefits could enroll in a state-run individual retirement account (IRA) program, under legislation the Senate Labor Committee moved March 19.

A new statewide poll shows a clear majority of voters still believe the country is on the wrong track, while partisan splits continue to harden across nearly every major issue, from the direction of the state to job approval ratings for top political figures.

Senate Democrats adopted a resolution urging President Donald Trump and Congress to reverse federal energy policies they say are driving up fuel and utility costs, prompting sharp criticism from Republicans who dismissed the move as partisan messaging that will not lower prices.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) doubled down on having received a sunshine award from a publicly invisible entity for having successfully pushed for transparency in the legislative earmark process last year.

The House Oversight Committee could soon take up an investigation into the Interlochen Center for the Arts after Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) formally requested a probe into the school's past ties to convicted child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

On Friday night, former House Speaker and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tom Leonard, posted photos on Facebook of himself smiling alongside Detroit sports legends for "313 Day," including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

More than half of the salaried employees working in the Michigan Senate earn more than the senators themselves, according to a review of the updated employee salaries received by MIRS via House rules.