Editorial

By Robert Daddow As Oakland County deputy executive, I often speak with state and local officials. Most of them realize that with the auto industry in crisis and the nation in recession, they face rough weather ahead. What they often don’t recognize is that they’re optimists. In fact, Michigan governments face a perfect storm — a convergence of economic trends that will depress government revenues for years to come. Accounting gimmicks and “revenue enhancements” will fail, forcing policymakers to transform the delivery of public … [Read more...] about A perfect storm: Batten down the hatches or drown

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry When Barack Obama pilfered Martin Luther King Jr.’s line about the “fierce urgency of now,” he wasn’t kidding. The line has come to define his presidency. His legislative strategy moves in two gears — heedlessly fast and recklessly faster. As with the stimulus package, Obama’s health-care plan depends on speed. More important than any given provision, more important than any principle, more important than sound legislating is the urgent imperative to Do It Now. Do it now, before anyone can … [Read more...] about An ideologue in a hurry

Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon is offering a bold idea, even if it will not serve as the immediate solution to state government’s ongoing budget crisis. His idea of saving $900 million a year through combining state employees’ health plans will take years to realize. Still, Dillon has displayed something just as valuable two months before the state possibly shuts down: the willingness to think big. We need more of that from this governor and Legislature. The House Speaker this month suggested putting all of Michigan’s public … [Read more...] about Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillion offers a rare concept: leadership

By Robert Daddow As Oakland County deputy executive, I often speak with state and local officials. Most of them realize that with the auto industry in crisis and the nation in recession, they face rough weather ahead. What they often don’t recognize is that they’re optimists. In fact, Michigan governments face a perfect storm — a convergence of economic trends that will depress government revenues for years to come. Accounting gimmicks and “revenue enhancements” will fail, forcing policymakers to transform the delivery of public … [Read more...] about A perfect storm: Batten down the hatches or drown

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry When Barack Obama pilfered Martin Luther King Jr.’s line about the “fierce urgency of now,” he wasn’t kidding. The line has come to define his presidency. His legislative strategy moves in two gears — heedlessly fast and recklessly faster. As with the stimulus package, Obama’s health-care plan depends on speed. More important than any given provision, more important than any principle, more important than sound legislating is the urgent imperative to Do It Now. Do it now, before anyone can … [Read more...] about An ideologue in a hurry

Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon is offering a bold idea, even if it will not serve as the immediate solution to state government’s ongoing budget crisis. His idea of saving $900 million a year through combining state employees’ health plans will take years to realize. Still, Dillon has displayed something just as valuable two months before the state possibly shuts down: the willingness to think big. We need more of that from this governor and Legislature. The House Speaker this month suggested putting all of Michigan’s public … [Read more...] about Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillion offers a rare concept: leadership

By: Thomas P. Tafelski The greatest strength found in Dearborn rests with our traditions. For me, one of the greatest traditions is our Homecoming celebration. In fact, this year, Aug. 7-9 marks the 30th anniversary of Homecoming. Begun in 1979, Homecoming was not much more than a way for graduating classes to renew old friendships and recall old memories. While the reunions and picnics of graduates from over the years still are part of the celebration, Homecoming has evolved to represent much more. The thing that strikes me … [Read more...] about HOMECOMING: A COMMUNITY TRADITION TO BE PROUD OF

Brian Connolly Op-ed Today, across the state and country, we’re facing an economic climate unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetimes. As political and business leaders search for solutions, health care reform remains high on the to-do list in both Lansing and Washington, D.C. Some see the health care industry as contributing to the state’s and country’s economic woes. The facts point to a very different reality. Health care is the largest industry in Michigan, responsible for generating approximately $50 billion in … [Read more...] about Healthcare reform

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry Barack Obama spent all of 2008 running against the sputtering economy, and warned earlier this year of a crisis “we may not be able to reverse.” Yet, as the unemployment rate climbs beyond the administration’s projections, Vice President Joe Biden informs us that the administration “misread how bad the economy was.” Apparently we were going to experience a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis comparable to the Great Depression without a particularly high unemployment rate. This was the promise … [Read more...] about The Rosy Apocalypse

In light of current economic conditions, the headline for last week’s $2 million donation by Unity Studios President Jimmy Lifton to the city of Allen Park’s pension fund could well have read, “Money falls from sky.” That’s undoubtedly how it must feel for officials there who otherwise would have had to make up that shortfall in other ways, such as from the city’s general fund. The studio’s gift is the first of what promises to be a series of benefits to Allen Park and its residents — if and when the facility jumps through all the … [Read more...] about Pension fund gift should prove to be first of many benefits to city from deal to build studio