As a part of the new statewide budget for the 2025 fiscal year, bipartisan support was given toward opioid addiction services. About $48.2 million will be allocated to fighting the opioid epidemic. Statistics show one Michigan resident dies from an opioid overdose every four hours. All funding comes from a settlement reached with opioid companies at the end of 2023. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Fu...
Jul 05, 2024•2 min•Ep. 222
After denying any interest in replacing President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination this fall, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined a team of fellow Democratic governors at a White House meeting Wednesday. It’s currently unknown what the meeting entailed, but Biden was also scheduled to have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris. Whitmer said on social media Monday the president can still be reelected in her state, following rumors of her doubting his chances after last week’s debate. S...
Jul 04, 2024•2 min•Ep. 221
Michigan’s $82.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 passed in the House at 4 a.m. on Thursday following hours of debate over spending. With a surplus this past year, the House Democratic majority focused on urban community projects, affordable housing, free community college and a new firearm injury grant. House Republicans argue the budget does not emphasize rural communities, infrastructure or small businesses enough, prioritizing instead corporate programming and liberal policies. Support th...
Jul 03, 2024•3 min•Ep. 220
Two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, a Michigan court blocked the state’s required 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled the requirement infringes on the state’s constitutional right to abortion, which was approved by voters in November 2022. The ruling also stops the state from mandating certain information be given before the procedure, saying it can be coercive. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation...
Jun 28, 2024•2 min•Ep. 219
In an effort to boost voter turnout, the state of Michigan plans to bring politics to schools, workplaces and social media. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson played host to a roundtable earlier this week to discuss solutions to voter turnout gaps among young Michiganders. Compared to the rest of the nation, Michigan boasted a higher turnout of voters aged 18-29 in the 2022 midterm election. Yet, nearly 60% of active registered voters in that age group did not cast a ballot in 2022, according to ...
Jun 27, 2024•2 min•Ep. 218
The Michigan House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation that supporters say will protect the state’s elections from bad actors. House Bill 5551, sponsored by Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, would amend the Michigan Election Law to prohibit individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving on the board of state or county canvassers, which certify the election results. Michigan Election Law already prohibits those convicted of election crimes from serving as election in...
Jun 26, 2024•2 min•Ep. 217
SOAR is taking a fall against House Republican scrutiny, with numerous amendments preventing the package from leaving the House Economic Development Committee. The Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, first introduced in 2021 as a means of keeping business in Michigan, has faced recent backlash from both sides of the aisle for its high spending and lack of results. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is looking to right these wrongs with a rebranding of SOAR to the Make it in Michigan Fund, whi...
Jun 21, 2024•3 min•Ep. 216
Michigan farms affected by the rise in bird flu cases are now eligible for financial assistance but at a cost. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has determined 20 Michigan dairy farms are eligible for up to $28,000 each, so long as they assist in researching the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Since first detected in March, 24 cow herds have been infected, alongside three Michigan farmers, making it the state with the highest cattle and human cases in the country. Support ...
Jun 20, 2024•2 min•Ep. 215
Two bills looking to fight against deed fraud have passed the Michigan House with bipartisan support. If successful in a Senate vote, HB 5598 and 5599 would enforce a new 10-year felony for anyone who tries to falsify information on a property deed, such as ownership or a forged signature. The bills would also allow registrar employees to submit fraudulent documents to a county prosecutor for analysis. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-94...
Jun 19, 2024•3 min•Ep. 214
In what Republicans are calling a win for election integrity, the Michigan Court of Claims ruled election clerks cannot initially presume voter signatures are valid. The decision struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s second attempt in 2023 to adjust signature verification requirements, even after the court ruled in 2021 that those changes were invalid. The December 2023 guidance manual issued by Benson to help polling clerks stated “voter signatures are entitled to an initial presumpti...
Jun 14, 2024•2 min•Ep. 213
Southwestern Michigan impacted by recent storms might be given a federal disaster declaration. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants President Joe Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for four Michigan counties after the multiple tornadoes earlier this month. While Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties have all received state disaster support, and preliminary estimates suggest a need for federal financial assistance. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-f...
Jun 13, 2024•2 min•Ep. 212
A small group of Michigan lawmakers want to crack down on illegal immigration. The Michigan House Freedom Caucus introduced a five-bill package and a resolution recently seeking to criminalize inaction on illegal immigration. State Reps. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix; Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers; Matt Maddock, R-Milford and James DeSana, R-Ash Township announced the package. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxx...
Jun 12, 2024•2 min•Ep. 211
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a new “PitchMI” competition, where startups will compete for $100,000 in the style of the television show “Shark Tank.” The state will partner with other organizations to award the best pitch on improving transportation. Details on applying are expected soon. The competition is timely, since the state is nearing the close of a five-year, $3.5 billion bond issued in 2019 for highway reconstruction. With more electric vehicles driving, and many roa...
Jun 07, 2024•2 min•Ep. 210
One Fair Wage isn't giving up on a higher minimum wage in Michigan, despite an October ruling that ended a chance to get the question before voters in 2024. Instead, the group is banking on a court case and lawmakers to push the state's non-tipped minimum wage eventually to $15 an hour. A 2024 ballot proposal to raise Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027, circulated by One Fair Wage, had collected more than 360,000 signatures. But the Republican-led Board of State Canvassers ruled in ...
Jun 06, 2024•3 min•Ep. 209
A bipartisan group of Michigan state representatives want to stop local delivery drivers from paying taxes twice. Reps. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn; Jimmie Wilson, D-Ypsilanti; Graham Filler, R-Duplain Township; and Jasper Martus, D-Flushing introduced HB 5745 and 5746 to eliminate a double sales tax on delivery companies like Instacart and Shipt. Under current Michigan law, local delivery companies pay a sales tax both when buying the product from the retailer and when they deliver to the consume...
May 31, 2024•2 min•Ep. 208
With border exposure and natural ports, Michigan Republicans want to change state law to make human smuggling illegal and criminalize harboring and transporting people who are or have entered the country illegally. There are no state-level criminal penalties for human smuggling. State Reps. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa, recently introduced legislation that would criminalize bringing unauthorized people into Michigan. Harboring and transporting people living in or who ...
May 30, 2024•4 min•Ep. 207
After a recent Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, tensions remain between the Michigan Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In February, the governor proposed an $80.7 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Since then, both the House and Senate have passed their own. After the CREC, a final vote in both chambers is necessary to finalize the budget before the July 1 deadline. Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_5bb74142-186f-11ef-91f4-73977fe5cf9c.htm...
May 24, 2024•3 min•Ep. 206
Insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatments is now law in Michigan after Republicans and Democrats came together on legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 27 on Tuesday, requiring insurance companies to cover both issues to the same degree as medical coverage. Inpatient, outpatient and emergency services, and prescribed medication all fall under the bill’s classification of treatment. Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_128aff76...
May 23, 2024•3 min•Ep. 205
A Michigan lawmaker wants to restore what he calls a fur harvester licensed hunter’s right to hunt coyotes all year. State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock recently introduced House Bill 5721 that he says would give that right back to hunters. The bill was created by a group of house Republicans after the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4-2 to end the coyote hunting season from mid-April to mid-July, after it had been year-round from 2016 to 2020. Full story: https://www.thecentersquar...
May 16, 2024•4 min•Ep. 204
Michigan House Democrats passed budget bills totaling nearly $81 billion – larger than Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recommendation. Republicans in the minority for the first time in 40 years decried the spending proposals as wasteful as Democrats said the budget would invest in all Michiganders. House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, welcomed the proposed budget. Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_62bede3c-0e0b-11ef-a747-abd578eaf622.html Support this podcast: https://podcasters...
May 10, 2024•4 min•Ep. 203
The Michigan Supreme Court declined to say whether the government can use drones to spy on people without a warrant. The unanimous Friday ruling follows a 17-year dispute between residents Todd and Heather Maxon and Long Lake township officials who say the 5-acre residential property is being used as an illegal junkyard. The 18-page ruling written by Judge Brian Zahra affirmed the Court of Appeals ruling and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceeding. Full story: https://www.the...
May 09, 2024•3 min•Ep. 202
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills requiring high school coaches to maintain valid certification for CPR and automated external defibrillators in case of cardiac arrest. The legislation requires schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan if a student-athlete collapses on the field because of a cardiac issue. House Bill 5527 , sponsored by state Rep. John Fitzgerald, requires schools to activate a cardiac emergency response plan for the governing body of a school. HB 5528 , sponsored b...
May 02, 2024•3 min•Ep. 201
Michigan’s top business group says “we can’t get” to the 100% clean energy standard by 2040 without nuclear energy. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, bipartisan lawmakers and organized labor support restarting the 800-megawatt Palisades nuclear plant on Lake Michigan’s Eastern shore, expected to return online in 2025. Edward Kee, CEO and founder of the Nuclear Economics Consulting Group, said nuclear energy could help decarbonize the electricity industry. Full story: https...
Apr 26, 2024•5 min•Ep. 200
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Michigan $159 million in solar subsidies for low-income households. The Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will be administered through the MI Solar for All program, which aims to increase access to affordable solar energy for eligible families. The Michigan Department of Environment, great lakes, and energy will invest 159 million dollars to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar, community solar and energy storage. Full s...
Apr 25, 2024•3 min•Ep. 199
A new report found Michigan school districts spent their COVID-19 funds similarly to their general budget, with nearly half spent on employee compensation and benefits. A Mackinac Center for Public Policy report shows how school districts have spent $2.5 billion of the $6 billion in federal pandemic aid between the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. To help address the challenges of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress distributed unprecedented amounts of money to...
Apr 19, 2024•4 min•Ep. 198
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced 13 felony charges against former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, 35, accusing him of stealing political funds for personal use. The state accused Lee of illegally taking political money for personal use from the 501(c)(4) Peninsula Fund, his own electoral political action committees, The Chatfield Majority Fund, The Chatfield Majority Fund 2 and the state House budget. Lee is accused of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony; embezzlement ...
Apr 18, 2024•4 min•Ep. 197
The Department of Justice has weighed into the Line 5 pipeline dispute, saying Enbridge Energy has been trespassing for more than 10 years. The 70-page brief filed in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals says about 12 miles of Line 5 crosses the Reservation of the Bad River Band in northern Wisconsin. The 645-mile pipeline stretching from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarnia, Canada, pumps about 540,000 gallons of hydrocarbons daily across the lakebed of Lake Michigan. Full story: https://www.thecenter...
Apr 12, 2024•4 min•Ep. 196
Michigan Republicans are calling for accountability within the Michigan Economic Development Corp. after taxpayers reportedly bought an $11,000 flight to Budapest and a $4,500 coffee maker. Metro Detroit businesswoman and MEDC executive committee member Fay Beydoun received a $20 million grant for her company Global Link International to attract international business. The Detroit News reported that money paid for a flight to a conference in Budapest and a Jura coffee maker. Full story: https://...
Apr 11, 2024•3 min•Ep. 195
Twenty-five Michigan lawmakers oppose President Joe Biden administration's electric vehicle mandate through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA rules for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles phased in from 2027 through 2032 will require about 67% of new car sales to be electric by 2032. Republican lawmakers said the mandate will destroy auto jobs in Michigan responsible for 19% of U.S. automotive production. Producing EVs requires 30% less human labor. This story: https://www.thecen...
Apr 05, 2024•4 min•Ep. 194
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed nine bills into law to legalize surrogacy contracts. Michigan is the last state to legalize surrogacy contracts. Democrats say that nine bills, House Bills 5207, 5208, 5209, 5210, 5211, 5212, 5213, 5214, and 5215, will help more people get children born through surrogacy or in vitro fertilization. The bills will regulate surrogacy, ensure surrogates are fairly compensated, have legal representation and are screened by medical professionals. Support this podc...
Apr 03, 2024•3 min•Ep. 193
