Michigan’s tax code is intrinsically linked to the Federal tax code. So, when the Congress passed its landmark tax reform late last year, they inadvertently created a $1.5 billion tax increase for families and workers here in Michigan. Legislators in Michigan could easily have implemented a quick fix to restore personal exemptions and returned to the status quo.

Thankfully, they chose to go further!

Gretchen Whitmer proudly touted her fundraising numbers last week, proclaiming she had raised three million dollars for her campaign.

Sixteen years ago, with stricter campaign finance limits, the LAST Democrat to torpedo Michigan’s economy, Jennifer Granholm, had raised $2.8 million by this time in her campaign. Adjusted for inflation, that’s around $3.9 million. With contribution limits double the size they were sixteen years ago and the supposed “Resistance” at full froth, that’s not nearly as impressive as her press release would have you believe. 

But it gets worse: $3,400 of that came from former Rep. Brian Banks.

Gretchen Whitmer’s New Year couldn’t have gotten off to a more disappointing start.

According to a new bombshell report from the Detroit News, a growing federal corruption probe in metro Detroit has the FBI looking into a number of prominent area Democrats.  The FBI’s “target subjects” include disgraced former lawmaker, felon, sexual harasser and Whitmer money-man Brian Banks, and perhaps her most prominent Detroit backer, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. 

This article originally appeared in The Detroit News.

‘Twas the Thursday before Christmas, and all through the House, not a creature was stirring – because the state Legislature adjourned and went home to recharge for a big 2018.

(Sorry, if you were expecting verse, this space is more for polemics than poetry.)

Good thing, too, because taxpayers, workers, and families across the state yearning for more freedom (and more cash in their pockets come next Christmas) have a pretty important policy wish list.

This article originally appeared in The Detroit News.

There’s a liability crisis threatening public workers, taxpayers, and the stability of local governments across the state of Michigan, and unless leaders get serious, it’s going to devastate our communities.

A task force created by Gov. Rick Snyder studied unfunded liabilities at the local level and the data is shocking. Local governments have promised municipal employees and retirees massive post-employment health care benefits but failed to properly fund them, in excess of $10 billion of your (eventual) tax dollars. At the same time, these local governments are facing unfunded pension liabilities of an additional $7.5 billion.

The Second Amendment is an important part of our mission at the Michigan Freedom Fund. We strongly believe in the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. Today, the Senate Government Operations Committee voted to protect your Second Amendment Rights, enabling specially licensed individuals to conceal carry in schools, churches, and other “Gun Free Zones.”

This article originally appeared in The Detroit News.

The day after last November’s election, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel took to campus to address students, express his shock at Donald Trump’s win and comfort them with the reminder that the university was a safe space where they were surrounded by like-minded liberals.

Last week, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Shri Thanedar released an “education” plan that directly assaults school choice by banning for-profit schools[1]. Under his plan, the four best public schools in the state would be forced to close.

This article originally appeared in The Detroit News.

Imagine being coerced to join a club you don’t like, pay for a service you don’t want, or accept representation from someone you never had the opportunity to vote for. Doesn’t sound fair, does it?

It’s not fair, but that’s what happens to blue-collar workers and hardworking state employees every single day in Michigan.