Michigan Policy Wonk

Our weekly round-up of policy-relevant reads and IPPSR-connected research.

Problems:

• Flint Syndrome. Comparing the State of Michigan’s approach towards struggling municipalities with the State of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Josh Sapotichne, IPPSR affiliated faculty and presenter at IPPSR’s forum on the Flint Water Crisis, extensively quoted in these two articles from Bride Magazine examining Michigan’s Emergency Manager law compared to other similar states.
• Salmon charter trips up, despite salmon catching down. IPPSR partner MSU Extension examines the interesting relationship between an increase in charter fishing for salmon, and reduced catch rate of the fish in Michigan waters.
• Designing Policies to Make Cars Greener. IPPSR affiliate and forum speaker Soren Anderson's new overview at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Policy:

• Erhardt’s environmental initiative recognized. Ann Erhardt, who spoke at IPPSR forum this week regarding ‘Michigan’s Energy Future’ was honored for her work driving MSU towards environmental sustainability.
• In the face of unified opposition to the Michigan House Republican’s “plan” for Detroit schools, there is a better way. David Arsen, an associated faculty with IPPSR describes the issues with Detroit’s current financial situation, and proposes a path forward.
• State has $460 million budget hole. MPLP alum Sam Singh connects the recent revenue revisions in the State of Michigan with Governor Snyder’s tax policy initiatives. See also our blog post on usual errors in Michigan revenue estimates and the benefit of consensus revenue estimating. 

Politics:

• More than 100,000 Michigan employees could soon be eligible for overtime. State of the State Survey Director Charles Ballard describes how the new Obama administration regulations regarding overtime will impact the State of Michigan moving forward.
• Ideological mobilization helps parties, unless it overpowers them. IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann’s work is cited in reference to the influence of ideological groups within the GOP that have little interest in the party’s electoral health.
• Bernie Sanders’s base isn’t the working class. It’s young people. IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann is cited for his work regarding the difference in voting among different age groups, particularly in the Michigan Democratic Primary, where IPPSR’s poll was the closest to the actual result across the country.