MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, January 15, 2024

Executive Director Edward Woods III of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission believes the commission deserves "a little bit more grace" as it prepares to redraw seven state House districts due to a federal court ruling that they were racially gerrymandered. He is joined by the commission's litigation counsel, Katherine McKnight.    

Former Detroit legislator LaMar Lemmons III entered the special election race for Michigan's 13th House District because of a shortage of African American representation in Lansing. However, he feels like he's working against himself after the Governor endorsed one of his opponents. 

Additionally, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Nikki Snyder, a registered nurse and State Board of Education member, joins the MIRS team to preview a candidate forum being hosted by the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance at their Jan. 19 policy conference. 

MIRS Monday, January 8, 2024

Elections attorney Mark Brewer and retired political action executive Bob LaBrant take a look at ongoing headlines surrounding Michigan's independent redistricting commission. After 13 legislative districts were ruled as racially gerrymandered, does the commission need to tidy up its operations? Also, can the districts be redrawn without impacting others?    

William Lawrence, coordinator of the 'Rent is Too Damn High' coalition in Michigan, calls for the state to address both tenant rights and housing supply needs at the same time. 

Additionally, Policy Director Jennifer Peacock of the Michigan Center for Youth Justice explains how for most of 2024, local governments will be preparing for multiple changes to the state's juvenile justice system, which she says aims to prevent an "over reliance on detention" following youths' offenses.

MIRS Monday, January 1, 2024

In this week's New Year's Day edition of MIRS Monday, John Walsh – president of the Michigan Manufacturers Association – describes his organization's biggest policy concerns and hopes for 2024. 

After weighing in on more than 250 bills this past year, Chief Executive Officer Monique Stanton of the Michigan League for Public Policy describes 2023 as a "marathon on a sprint pace." 

Additionally, First Vice President Melanie Ryska of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks says "please slow down" when it comes to elections legislation. 

MIRS Monday, December 25, 2023

In this week's Christmas edition of MIRS Monday, the team is joined by Crains' politics and policy reporter David Eggert to name MIRS' Senator of the Year. This will be the final installment of the Legislator of the Year series for 2023. 

Also, Mai Xiong, a candidate for Michigan's 13th Warren-based House district, explains her journey from being born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand to becoming a Macomb County commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Additionally, Lance Binoniemi of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association describes how different proposed user fees – like toll roads – could assist the state with road funding. 

MIRS Monday, December 18, 2023

The MIRS team gathers to make their nominations for the MIRS House Member of 2023, with assistance from guest reporter Ben Orner, a legislative and political journalist for MLive. 

Also, on December 6th, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt dropped by the MIRS newsroom to share his own views on how the year went. Zooming in on Democrats' 100% "clean energy" by 2040 package, Nesbitt says it is "so much like Governor Whitmer" to get a huge public relations hit supporting a possible future presidential run, while many plans are not fully implemented until after her governorship ends.

"This gives Republicans a chance as we continue to work to win back the House next year, to work to win back the Senate and win back the governorship," Nesbitt says. 

MIRS Monday, December 11, 2023

The MIRS team gathers to make their nominations for the MIRS Republican Legislator of 2023, with assistance from guest reporter Rachel Louise Just, a multimedia journalist previously with News Channel 3. 

In his first-ever interview on the subject, retired GOP political operative Steve Linder explains how he didn't do anything wrong while developing Michigan's medical marijuana law, detailing how he was betrayed and "put in harm's way" amid what became the Rick Johnson public corruption and bribery scandal:  "...people who betrayed me. This was a betrayal. Rick Johnson betrayed his oath to the people of Michigan." 

MIRS Monday, December 4, 2023

The MIRS Monday team comes together to nominate their picks for the MIRS Freshman Legislator of 2023. Colin Jackson of the Michigan Public Radio Network also joins the discussion as a guest nominator. 

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks describes what it was like to lead the Michigan Senate this year, especially with 40 years of "pent up policy issues" on her Democratic caucus' agenda.

Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps talks about why his commission approved the Line 5 tunnel project. He also goes over his commission's new authorities under Democrats' 100% clean-energy-by-2040 package.

MIRS Monday, November 27, 2023

Saginaw-based lobbyist Jimmy Greene says if you're a Republican looking at the 2024 elections, you want the current state party to stay away as far as possible. 

Executive Director MoReno Taylor II of the Fund MI Future coalition highlights a survey finding that when first asked, 60% of respondents backed increasing the state's corporate income tax rate for extra public infrastructure funding. 

State Rep. Donni Steele, an Orion Township Republican, describes legislation she introduced to make budget bills viewable to lawmakers at least one week in advance. 

MIRS Monday, November 20, 2023

Flushing-based political consultant David Forsmark and Tim Sneller, the former Democratic state representative from Burton, discuss who might – and might not – run to be U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee's successor in the 8th Congressional District.

Executive Vice President Dawn Crandall of the Home Builders Association of Michigan updates MIRS on the current state of housing shortages. 

State Rep. Phil Skaggs, an East Grand Rapids Democrat, explains how he "sure will" be disclosing more than what's required from him in Democratic leadership's legislation subjecting lawmakers to financial disclosure filing mandates.  

MIRS Monday, November 13, 2023

CEO Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and Chief Strategist John Sellek of Harbor Strategic share what has surprised them most this year in the state Legislature, and what kind of "chaos bomb" could still occur after they adjourn for 2023. 

Hilary Doe, the first state chief growth officer in the country, doesn't see a significant correlation between low taxes and population growth when she looks at data. 

She and workgroup member Fatima Salman give updates on the Governor's Growing Michigan Together Council. 

State Representative Jaime Greene of Richmond says she has learned that anytime a bunch of amendments are slapped onto a bill on the House floor, "it was a piece of garbage to begin with." 

MIRS Reporter Samantha Shriber is joined by House Reporter Danielle James.