legislature

For the past two decades, lobbyists have spent over $6 million influencing Michigan lawmakers. The Detroit Free Press turned to Ford School's Joe Schwarz and Richard Hall for insights on the lobbying process within the legislature and its impacts on...

Despite a two-year trend of improvement, nearly 60% of Michigan's local government leaders say the state is on the wrong track in 2023, according to a recent University of Michigan survey.  Specifically, 59% see the wrong track, less than the 62%...

Barry Rabe, Bridge Detroit: "I wouldn’t necessarily lowball expectations. But I would temper those against the fact that the margins are narrow, there’s a saturated agenda, a very inexperienced legislature and the 2024 elections are already...

Ford School alumni and students played a key part in upholding democracy during the 2022 midterms—running for office, knocking on doors, and working at polling stations, up and down the ballot, across Michigan and around the country. Several...

As voters in Michigan consider a ballot measure to change the state's legislative term limits, a survey of former legislators shows overwhelming support for reforming or abolishing the limits. The survey, conducted in 2020 and 2021 by Rusty...

Joe Schwarz, lecturer in public policy, weighed in on two bills passed in the Michigan House of Representatives this week. The bills would make conducting medical research on stem cells derived from abortions a five-year felony. "That is...

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission recently released the newly-drawn district maps. Democrats are liking what they see, predicting the maps give them the best chance in decades to win a majority in the state Senate. "It's...

Nick Occhipinti (MPP ‘08) describes himself as “your friendly neighborhood lobbyist” — but, his job entails so much more than that.  “When I win, nobody makes any more money, nobody gets a raise, but Michigan’s air, land and water get a little...

Michigan House Republicans have been zeroing in on a trip Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took to Florida to check on her ill father. They are questioning how the trip was paid for, since a nonprofit that was used for her inaugaration paid over $27,000 for a...

Molly E. Reynolds (PhD '15) and Richard L. Hall co-authored an August 8 paper in Political Research Quarterly: "Issue Advertising and Legislative Voting on the Affordable Care Act." Abstract During the congressional fight over the Affordable...

In an op-ed titled "Why rush to hold kids back?" published by The Detroit News on October 29th, Brian Jacob and Michael Lombardo applaud a new state legislature bill proposing Michigan’s first comprehensive reading program.“One provision in the...

Is Congress too partisan? Can Congress fulfill its legislative and oversight functions? Do the executive and judicial branches effectively control public policy...

Is Congress too partisan? Can Congress fulfill its legislative and oversight functions? Do the executive and judicial branches effectively control public policy...