IJP Newsletter

As legal and political drama unfolds surrounding the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, questions remain about who will be held accountable for mishandling of taxpayer dollars and whether Michigan’s business incentives program will face changes moving forward.

After a Republican subpoena, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson files a legal brief in the Michigan Court of Claims arguing she is a political target. Plus, Michigan U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin offers a centrist remedy for Democrats’ doldrums and the latest on state budget negotiations.

The July 1st deadline for the Legislature to send a finalized budget to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk is approaching and the House and the Senate don’t appear to be close. Plus, a new referendum effort could have you voting on the state’s minimum wage and a potential Democratic challenger in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District wants to take on Republican Congressman Tom Barrett.

The state House met into the night on Thursday as Republicans voted on their higher education budget. We know it is a non-starter in the Democratic-controlled Senate. A look at what happens next in Lansing before a looming July 1st budget deadline.

Michigan House Republicans and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are headed to court in a fight over access to election-related materials and legislative oversight. The House GOP majority filed a lawsuit seeking an order for the Democratic Secretary of State to fully comply with a legislative subpoena. Plus, blowing past a July 1st state budget deadline.

Fighting state legislative leaders, calls for civility, and economic uncertainty: The Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Mackinac Policy Conference is in the books.

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.

As budget deadlines loom, the state House and Senate fiscal agencies both project a softening economy will leave the Legislature with less money to work with than initially projected in January. Plus, state Representative Joe Tate jumps into the U.S. Senate race, and Governor Whitmer dodges on former President Joe Biden’s health.

President Donald Trump takes preemptive legal action against state climate change lawsuits and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s unrestrained reply. Plus, Governor Gretchen Whitmer says her political approach with Trump is showing results.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s appointment of Michigan Supreme Court Justice-designate Noah Hood might have been more consequential if it flipped the high court’s majority. But that’s not the case. Rather, it takes the court from a majority of Democratic Party-affiliated justices to a 6-1 super majority. Why it matters. Plus, President Trump will visit Macomb County next week for a rally highlighting the first 100 days of his second administration.