MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, April 2, 2012

If community colleges are allowed to offer the five baccalaureate degrees, what are the chances the colleges will ask for more down the road? How many of the state's 28 community colleges are looking at becoming universities? Mike Hansen of the Michigan Community College Association answers those and other questions. Also, the MIRS team digs into the four big items the Legislature didn't finish before the spring recess.

MIRS Monday, March 26, 2012

Rich Robinson of the Campaign Finance Network gives Jocelyn Benson's "Right to Know" ballot proposal an "incomplete." Was Robinson consulted on Benson's shelved proposal? What would his ballot proposal look like if he were to craft one? Also, Republicans try to play the role of compromiser on Right to Work, why Flint will get its emergency manager back quickly and why the public doesn't care about the immediate effect controversy in the House.

MIRS Monday, March 19, 2012

Bob LaBrant of the Sterling Corporation calls the SEIU-backed health care worker constitutional ballot proposal "featherbedding." Listen to what else he and attorney John Pirich of the Honigman Miller have to say about the various ballot proposals being advanced by progressive causes. What happened to Jocelyn Benson's short-lived "Right To Know" proposal? Did Snyder do himself a disservice by trying to get organized labor to back off their collective bargaining ballot proposal? This and much more on this week's edition.

Gov. Snyder on Consent Agreement, 3/13/12

Gov. Rick Snyder talks to reporters this afternoon about his proposed consent agreement with the city of Detroit, which is in a position to run out of cash by May.

MIRS Monday, March 12, 2012

The Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) endorses three Supreme Court candidates. Listen to short 3-minute interviews with Wayne County Judge Connie Kelley, attorney Bridget McCormack and Southfield County Sheila Johnson. Lupe Ramos-Montigny, a Michigan Board of Education candidate, also speaks about her upcoming race. Will the anti-Right to Work Plus ballot proposal make the ballot? How about Jocelyn Benson's corporate campaign reporting plan? Legalized pot? The MIRS team runs down the possibilities in today's edition.

MIRS Monday, March 5, 2012

Will the fires of Dele-gate be sparked by the protest Rick Santorum is planning at the Michigan Republican Party headquarters in Lansing, or will Santorum's focus shift elsewhere as Super Tuesday approaches? MIRS Deputy Editor Susan Demas gives the rundown on the delegate debate. Also, former House Fiscal Agency Director Mitch Bean talks with MIRS Publisher John Reurink about whether the economy is recovering and what Gov. Rick Snyder's budget proposal means for higher education and community colleges.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Romney or Santorum? A panel of four Michigan political observers give their predictions on what's going to happen in Tuesday's presidential primary. Listen to Tom Shields of the Marketing Resource Group, Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght, T.J. Bucholz of Lambert Edwards and Stu Sandler of Decider Strategies debate the impact of the prolonged Republican primary on the General Election. Gary Glenn wins the endorsement of a consortium of more than 40 Tea Party groups. How much does it matter? Glenn speaks to MIRS correspondent Emily Lawler, who shares her views of this colorful event in Mt. Pleasant.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

Could Rick Santorum win Michigan but get fewer of the state's delegates than Mitt Romney? Mark Grebner from Practical Political Consultants says yes and provides new polling to prove it. Also, listen to what Santorum said to Lansing reporters after this week's edition of Off the Record. In a 12-minute scrum, he addresses questions about the Penn Hills controversy involving the Santorums' official residency five years ago and the cyber school the family sent their children to. He also chastises the media for asking him about whether government should give gay families the same support he's proposing for traditional married couples.

Mitt Romney's speech in Grand Rapids, 2/15/12

The following is unedited audio of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's speech at Compatico in Grand Rapids.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 13, 2012

Doug Rothwell, CEO of the Business Leaders of Michigan, opines on getting rid of the personal property tax, the state's $500 million surplus and a proposal to bump the state's renewable portfolio standards to 25 percent by 2025. Also, MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn and Deputy Editor Susan Demas handicap the state's developing 14 congressional races.