MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 27, 2015

What proposal is the most likely to make it in front of voters on the November 2016 ballot? Adrian Hemond from Grassroots Midwest gives his opinion. Hemond also suggests a new idea that's being floated around Lansing that would shrink the size of the Legislature from 110 House members to 80 and 38 senators to 25. Listen to some details on that.

Also, Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville) talks about the potential of a runaway constitutional convention if the states agree to hold such a meeting regarding a federal balanced budget amendment.

MIRS Monday, July 20, 2015

Would House Speaker Jase Bolger have voted for the current Senate roads plan if it were offered to him in lame duck 2014? How much General Fund revenue did he ask the Governor to dedicate to roads as part of a roads package in 2014? And how important, politically, is it that the House Republicans pass a road-funding plan this term?

Bolger, the current advisor for the West Michigan Policy Forum, answers these questions and more. Also, listen to the first half of last week's House Democrats' press conference on their road-funding plan (16:55-29:32).

MIRS Monday, July 13, 2015

As road funding discussions go behind closed doors in the state legislature, former Sen. Gretchen Whitmer questions how much power Gov. Rick Snyder will exert into the process after he was "beat" on the issue by then-Speaker Jase Bolger last year. Whitmer also talks about what issue she wants to see on the ballot next year, if she's interested in running for office in the future and more.

Also, hear raw audio from presidential candidate Rand Paul's press availability in Holland on Sunday (18:00) and pre-press conference thoughts from Paul supporter U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (15:58).

MIRS Monday, July 6, 2015

Senate President Pro Tem Tonya Schuitmaker has been increasing her visibility across the state. Why is that? Where is she on prison reform and what criteria does she use in determining whether to raise taxes?

Also, does Lon Johnson's candidacy in the 1^st Congressional District hurt state Rep. Gretchen Driskell's in the 7^th? Who is being talked about for Attorney General in 2018? Is the House Republicans' campaign operation in disarray? And why did state Sen. Virgil Smith vote with the Republicans on their gas tax hike proposal? Ed Sarpolus from Target Insyght tackles these questions and more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, June 29, 2015

Tom Shields of the Marketing Resource Group assisted in the defeat of Lon Johnson during his 2012 state House race and the re-election of U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek in 2014. What does he see as Johnson's biggest weaknesses? Shields also breaks down the presidential field, along with Stephanie McLean of GMT Strategies.

McLean also talks about the political implications of last week's gay marriage ruling and how it affects political candidates in 2016.

Attorney General Bill Schuette Press Conference 6/26/15

Attorney General Bill Schuette reacts to today's U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows same-sex couples to wed, despite state constitutional or legislative restrictions. Schuette also takes questions from reporters. The following is raw audio and the press conference in its entirety.

MIRS Monday, June 22, 2015

Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) and Charlie Owens, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Michigan (NFIB), debate the pros and cons of installing a graduated income tax in Michigan during this special edition of the MIRS Monday podcast.

MIRS Monday, June 15, 2015

On the last full week of legislative session until the fall, Oakland County ISD Superintendent Vickie Markavitch opines on the teacher evaluation bill, how to fix the Detroit Public School district, the early warning bills and why the charter school community isn't a big fan of hers.

Also, the MIRS team kicks off its #MIRSBattleRoyal series of presidential candidates. Who does the MIRS team believe will be the first declared Republican presidential candidate to drop out of the race? Does Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson hop into the 1^st Congressional race? This and much more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, June 8, 2015

Josh Pugh, the former spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, gives his views on how he sees the Democratic presidential nomination playing out in Michigan and how Dems will do across the state in 2016. Pugh will be starting with Grassroots Midwest next month.

Also, Gary Naeyaert, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project, responds to last week's Bridge article that points to Sen. Phil Pavlov as an obstacle in getting teacher evaluation legislation through the House and Senate. He also talks about whether charter schools could take over the Detroit Public School district, a suggestion advanced by Rep. Tim Kelly last week.

MIRS Monday, June 1, 2015

Gov. Rick Snyder and House Speaker Kevin Cotter highlight the post-Mackinac Policy Conference edition of the MIRS Monday podcast. What is the Governor thinking about doing after he's term limited out in 2018? Who made their presence known as potential Snyder replacements on the island? What was the largest policy issue to emerge on the island?

The answers to these questions and much more in this week's edition.