Rick Pluta
Reporter / Producer - Michigan Public Radio NetworkRick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
Rick was one of the first Michigan political reporters to write about “pay-to-play” fundraising, and the controversies surrounding recognition of same-sex relationships. He broke the news that Gov. John Engler was planning a huge juvenile justice overhaul that included adult-time-for-adult-crime sentencing, and has continued to report since then on the effects of that policy decision.
He co-hosted the weekly segment “It’s Just Politics” on Michigan Radio with Zoe Clark.
Rick is fascinated by the game of politics, and the grand plans and human foibles that go into policy-making. You will never find him ice-fishing.
Follow him on Twitter at @rickpluta
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Republican state House Speaker Matt Hall says he's forming a new committee to review spending and regulations, raising fears the Legislature will miss a budget deadline. -
As more than 1,500 business leaders, lawmakers, lobbyists and philanthropists meet on Mackinac Island for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, new election 2026 polling is released. -
A libertarian-leaning think tank has filed a lawsuit seeking to challenge a key aspect of how the state budget is put together. -
Michigan House Republicans adopt a resolution to hold Jocelyn Benson in contempt for refusing to provide election-related materials. The Democratic Secretary of State (and gubernatorial aspirant) says she won’t be bullied. Plus, just how close Governor Whitmer came to being the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in 2020. -
The Republican-led state House adopted a resolution to hold Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in contempt for failing to comply with a legislative subpoena. -
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she wants to use state incentives to lure a giant semiconductor manufacturing facility that would employ thousands of people. -
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was in the news quite a bit this week - for all the wrong reasons. Plus, the political volleying over economic incentives for big business continues in Michigan. -
The Republican chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee wants Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to personally explain why a system to collect elected officials’ financial disclosure statements doesn’t work. -
The state attorney general's office says Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by using the lobby of a state office building for a press conference to announce she is running for governor. -
A state panel has delivered the official revenue numbers the governor and the Legislature use to craft the new state budget. But they came with warnings of uncertainty.
