Policy Issues

The first MIRS Pundit Monday after the primary election has four Michigan pundits answering the questions front of mind now about who makes the most sense as picks for gubernatorial running mates, among other questions.

Thirty-three states are falling short of their own goals for maintaining roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure as construction costs rise faster than the revenues traditionally used to pay for repairs, lawmakers were told earlier this month.

A room filled with dogs may have made this one of the cutest sessions at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual summit last week.

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026 found that social media and video platforms have become the world’s leading source of news for the first time.

Democrats are accusing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of failing to pursue an administrative option that they contend could have provided emergency funding for Planned Parenthood, although they have not publicly identified the appropriation that could have been used.

Former members of the executive branch and Legislature who take office after Jan. 1, 2027, can no longer register as lobbyists for two years after they leave office under legislation Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law on Monday.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved permits for Canadian-based Enbridge to start drilling a tunnel to house the Line 5 oil pipeline.

Folks could take their cocktail and beer orders to go outside of airport restaurants, carrying their drinks throughout the terminal and outside their gate, similar to social districts, under a bill that flew out of committee last month.

If you have a teenager, and you're headed Up North this weekend, here's a topic for the in-car ride going up.

While reducing property taxes remains top of his "to-do" list, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) is wading into the debate over the total elimination of the state income tax with a resulting $13 billion hit to the state budget.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township)'s recent attempt to negotiate numerous policy bills alongside the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget deal is slowing down progress to the point where finishing everything by Independence Day may not happen, MIRS has learned.

While HUD Secretary Scott Turner praised a new workforce housing development in Portage last week, city officials say the project is the product of years of rewriting local zoning rules to make housing easier — not harder — to build.

A House Oversight subcommittee chair walked back an earlier claim that an apparently defunct Clinton Township day care bilked the state of $1.12 million today, but blamed a state agency for not being clear on how it discloses grant recipients.

Senate Democrats on Thursday approved having Michigan create its own online marketplace where residents can shop for healthcare when they're not covered by Medicaid or insurance through work, joining 20 other states that have left the federal marketplace.

One Friday last summer, the Mielke boys set up their lemonade stand at the Rogers City Famers Market, just as they have the last three summers.

Michigan hospitals would be required to offer financial assistance to certain patients and medical debt would largely be barred from credit reports under a three-bill package introduced today by three House Republicans in politically competitive districts.

Auto insurance companies in Michigan would be banned from charging a customer more based on them being a loyal customer than they would charge someone who's actively comparison-shopping, under a bill by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield Twp.) aimed at outlawing "price optimization."

The federal government closing a grant program that encouraged farmers to install renewable energy systems could "financially ruin" those who started spending money on projects and will no longer be reimbursed, a Senate committee heard Thursday.

A proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul the way Michigan’s university boards are selected failed in the House today, prompting Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) to warn Democrats that they’re going to be “wishing they made this deal today.”

Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) advised Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) today that "sometimes it's not so good to be so emotional here on the Senate floor." Singh called Runestad's zealous remarks on lawmakers voting on budgets that fund their future employers an "emotional outburst."