Retooling Michigan

Gov. Snyder proposes mining severance tax

4:30 PM, May 18, 2012

Gov. Rick Snyder's administration is proposing a new severance tax for nonferrous mining operations that would replace four other taxes they'd have to pay under existing law.

Senate OK's new teacher benefit plan

4:33 PM, May 17, 2012

The Michigan Senate has passed legislation that would end pensions for newly hired public school employees and switch them into a 401 (k)-style retirement plan.

State expects $300M more in budget revenue

5:00 PM, May 16, 2012

State budget director John Nixon says he much of the extra money may go into the state's rainy day fund or be set aside in case the state loses legal fights over collecting income taxes on public pensions or having state workers pay more of their pension costs.

Gov. Rick Snyder, 2nd State of the State Address, January 18, 2012. (Courtesy: Michigan Assoc. of Broadcasters)

Gov. Snyder hasn't decided how much pay he'll keep

2:36 PM, May 16, 2012

Gov. Rick Snyder turned back all but $1 of his pay last year, but he's not sure what he'll do this year.

Snyder considering 'interlocal' bridge agreement

11:41 AM, May 16, 2012

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says he's considering an "interlocal agreement" between state government and Canadian officials to get a new international bridge built across the Detroit River.

Gov. Rick Snyder - from Detroit Free Press

Gov. Snyder signs cyber school measure into law

5:18 PM, May 15, 2012

More online charter schools will be allowed in Michigan under a law signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Retooling Michigan
News Headlines

File photo of the Ambassador Bridge. Courtesy AmbassadorBridge.com

Detroit road helps traffic on Ambassador Bridge

5:42 AM, May 15, 2012

Michigan is celebrating the opening of a new road designed to get thousands of trucks off secondary streets near the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit.

Report: Mich. low-income families to pay more tax

6:44 PM, May 14, 2012

A new report says Michigan's low-income working families will pay an estimated $244 million more in state income taxes next year because of reductions in the state's earned income tax credit.

Senate passes personal property tax cuts

3:00 PM, May 10, 2012

The Michigan Senate has passed a package of bills that would roll back the personal property taxes businesses pay by hundreds of millions of dollars.

New law allows residents to carry stun guns

2:38 PM, May 8, 2012

Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation allowing Michigan residents with concealed pistol licenses to carry a Taser as a nonlethal form of self-protection.

Business and labor groups get ready for battle

9:27 AM, May 3, 2012

Organizers of a petition drive to enshrine collective-bargaining rights in the state constitution have put their key players in place as the business community organizes to try to defeat the effort.

Free-tuition plan proposed

9:23 AM, May 3, 2012

An ambitious proposal by state Senate Democrats to provide free tuition to Michigan high school grads enrolled at state colleges and universities earned the respectful attention Wednesday of the Republican majority on the Senate Finance Committee.

Lawmaker works to prevent sexual abuse

9:26 PM, May 2, 2012

A West Michigan lawmaker is pushing for new guidelines to protect Michigan children from sexual abuse.

Task force: Let's change how Mich. picks justices

7:13 PM, Apr 26, 2012

A task force studying the Michigan judiciary says the state should get political parties out of races for the Supreme Court and hold an open primary for all candidates.

Michigan voters could face long ballot this fall

4:27 PM, Apr 26, 2012

Eight proposals may be on Michigan's November ballot, bringing a deluge of money and ads over issues ranging from protecting collective bargaining rights to requiring utilities to use more renewable energy.