MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Dec. 21, 2015

With 2015 coming to a close, MIRS announces its House Member of the Year and legislative Democrat of the Year based on the criteria of effectiveness, impact and level of activity. Which five members were nominated for each category? Who was picked as the winner?

Also, House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) said at his year-end press availability that internal strife within the Republican caucus hurt the majority's ability to accomplish meaningful legislation in 2015. Greimel also called on Gov. Rick Snyder to veto SB 571, an election and campaigning catch-all bill that stops local government and school districts from educating voters on millage and bonding proposals, bans cooperation with campaign committees from collecting what may become campaign money for unions, and loosens disclosure on robo calls.

MIRS Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

Could charter schools take over the Detroit Public Schools system, as was done in New Orleans? Why are charters not serving some Detroit neighborhoods where there are no local schools that children can attend? Jared Burkhart, executive director of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, answers this and other questions regarding DPS.

What has the Legislature done this year outside of a road funding package? The MIRS staff debates if the first half of the 98th Legislature has many accomplishments it can hang its hat on. MIRS staffers also discuss auto no-fault, no reason absentee voting and the motivator for this week's intro music, the Will Smith classic "Switch."

MIRS Monday, Dec. 7, 2015

Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) sat on the Flint City Council when the city's future water needs were debated. He shares his reflections on what happened during those discussions and why the former emergency manager is responsible for connecting the city to flawed Flint River water.

Also why has the data center tax break legislation split the Republican and Democratic caucuses? One major legislative issue gets kicked into 2016 as another one gets brought back up again with only two weeks left. This and more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Nov. 30, 2015

Would House Speaker Kevin Cotter support allowing an unlimited number of schools and hospitals to choose electric providers from a choice market? What is his prognosis for the energy reform package, in general, for the final three weeks of 2015? What Detroit Public Schools legislation? Straight ticket voting repeal? Data center legislation? Abortion reforms?

Also, Sen. Rick Jones declares the presumptive parole legislation "dead" in the Senate, but sees a path forward for a medical marijuana regulation package. Will Jones put up a nativity scene outside of the Capitol this year? This and much more in this week's podcast.

MIRS Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

The MIRS team offers theories on why pro-immigration Gov. Rick Snyder became the public face behind the nation's governors calling for a review of their political refugee screening process. A leadership vacuum appears to be costing House Republicans' momentum in the budding 2016 races.

And Jack Schmitt, deputy director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, talks about the two most important pieces of the energy reform package for his organization and how large of a role they see themselves playing in the 2016 election.

MIRS Monday, Nov. 16, 2015

Did Joe Gamrat spur the political demise of his wife, former Rep. Cindy Gamrat, with his anonymous threatening text messages? MIRS debates the question as one of the final loopholes into the odd drama of 2015 is tied up over the weekend with the Lapeer County prosecutor opting not to charge Mr. Gamrat with extortion.

Also, was Gov. Rick Snyder in the right by pushing the pause button on accepting Syrian refugees into Michigan? And Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw) and Jason Bedrick of the CATO Institute talk about Education Savings Accounts. All this and more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, November 9, 2015

Is it really good bye to Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat?  Now that Gov. Snyder has his $1.2 billion road funding package, what will the legislature be talking about for the rest of the year?  And Patrick Anderson of Anderson Economic Group explains why he considers Michigan a four and a half leaf state when it comes to the potential demand for legalized pot . . . that and much, much more.  

MIRS Monday, Nov. 2, 2015

Do either Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser have a chance of winning their primaries on Tuesday? Stu Sandler from Grand River Strategies uncorks a Quote of the Day possibility in response to that question while also gives his perspective on U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop's (R-Rochester) emerging Democratic opponent in 2016 and what presidential candidate Jeb Bush needs to do to get back into the hunt nationally, among other topics.

Finally, find out which MIRS staffer dressed as dancing pumpkin for Halloween and where to go to find the video evidence.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 26, 2015

Last week a group calling itself the Platform Republican Caucus circulated polling that showed voters do not want to see their gas taxes increased and if legislators do raise gas taxes, they are more willing to hold it against them during elections. Who is this group? What are they going to be doing in the long-term? The founder of the Platform Republican Caucus, Jennifer Hensley answers these and other questions.

Also, could the House's road funding solution turn into this Legislature's "Lottery" issue with the public? If the Legislature passes a "solution" for fixing the roads, but the public doesn't see a noticeable difference, will they have fixed anything at all? The MIRS team talks about this, when the best time to raise gas taxes and more.

Road Funding Debate - Sen. Colbeck and Sen. Hertel - 10/20/15

Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) issued a challenge on the Senate floor two weeks ago -- Will an elected member of the Legislature debate him in a public forum on why a tax increase is needed to generate additional money for roads? Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr., (D-East Lansing) accepted the challenge as part of a public debate organized by MIRS. 

The following is an hour-long debate held at the Senate Appropriations Committee Room inside the Capitol with MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn moderating. The room of roughly 50 individuals was full with an additional 50 people standing in the hall watching on a TV monitor and in a separate Capitol room watching though a video feed.