Policy Issues

A new bill by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) will require manufacturers in Michigan to label products where PFAS have been intentionally added to them.

Outgoing U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Oakland County) said today that Democrats failed to respond aggressively enough to border security concerns, acknowledging that the party’s handling of the issue contributed to the nation’s political shift to the right.

Rep. Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) wants the third Friday of every September designated as Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) day in Michigan with her HB 6335.

House lawmakers should consider funding a large-scale study comparing the long-term health of vaccinated and unvaccinated children, the chair of a House oversight panel said today.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson is proposing a $5,000 caregiver tax credit but, when asked, could not provide a cost estimate or enough eligibility details to calculate one.

A 25% pay raise may sound substantial, but for Michigan lawmakers and the governor, it still wouldn't come close to making up for more than two decades of pay falling behind inflation.

As U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-sayed bounced around among the different Democratic caucus meetings at Saturday's convention, gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson stayed mostly out of public eyesight.

Opposition to automated license plate-reading cameras is swiftly becoming an unusual bipartisan issue, drawing criticism from Republican activists, progressive candidates, civil libertarians and local officials concerned about how much information the systems collect and who can access it.

With minutes left in today's House Oversight Committee hearing over disputed gaming machines, Minority Vice Chair Reggie Miller (D-Belleville) asked Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) why lawmakers were still debating what is legal when bills intended to settle the question remain stalled.

The House passed the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) initiative to prevent utilities and high-dollar state contractors from contributing to campaigns with a 77-26 vote, though it likely will remain stalled in the Legislature as Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said she wouldn't take it up for a vote.

Nearly 2,000 demonstrators, counter-protesters and spectators descended on a Dearborn City Council meeting Tuesday as an anti-Islamic march organized by far-right activists drew white supremacists and Christian nationalists — and condemnation from Michigan political leaders.

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.