State Budget Officer Chris Harkins is asked about how transparent this year's budget-making process was.  The next Fiscal Year budget takes over $6 billion in surplus revenue off Michigan's balance sheet, but Harkins says residents should not be worried by this. 

Charlie Tyson, the technology activation director for the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, forecasts a future where unmanned delivery drones fly beyond the visual line of sight, and where companies might someday flock to Michigan to develop flying taxis. 

And actor Hill Harper is an official Democratic contender for the U.S. Senate. Sam Robinson of Axios in Detroit and past 'Reproductive Freedom For All' spokesperson Darci McConnell discuss what they're seeing in the early days of the Elissa Slotkin vs Harper Democratic rivalry.

State Representative Noah Arbit calls the idea that someone could be charged and prosecuted for misgendering a person under his hate crime legislation "just ludicrous on its face." 

President Brandy Johnson of the Michigan Community College Association explains why her organization is one of the early backers of the Governor's new state department, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential – or MiLEAP. 

Additionally, Clean Water Director John Rumpler of the Environment Michigan Research and Policy Center discusses a report finding that in 2022, 43% of Michigan's beaches were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one testing day.

Reporters Joey Cappelletti with AP and Colin Jackson with the Michigan Public Radio Network discuss what stories are brewing while the Legislature is on summer recess. How does Michigan become more attractive to young people? And what policy proposals could define the final months of 2023? 

Donald Roach with the SMART union for rail workers contemplates if Michigan missed the train for high speed rail, as well as the unclear future for disputed rail safety legislation. 

Finally, critics say the more than $2.8 billion LEO budget is a plate full of pork.   Senator Mary Cavanagh says it is full of historic investment into Michigan's underserved and overlooked communities.

Julie Metty Bennett from Public Sector Consultants and Matt Resch from Resch Strategies share their takeaways from the first six months of the first Democratic-led government in 40 years.

 

Nick Occhipinti of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters addresses why renewable portfolio standards need to be stricter when the dirty air we've all been breathing in lately is from wildfires in Canada.

 

And Michigan Legislative Consultants President Tim Ward embarks on an epic adventure to raise awareness for a program designed to bring more harmony to Michigan prisons.

State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder is asked why she believes she will win the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.

Andrea Bitely of the Michigan Retail Association is asked about the practical impact of repealing "The Death Star." 

And Doug Pratt of the Michigan Education Association is asked why the state should be spending more money on K-12 education when pupil count numbers are going down.

When will the Legislature wrap up its budget work for the year? Former Rep. Adam Zemke of the consulting firm 1837 adds his perspective to this, aggregate mining and the Democratic majority's first six months. 

 

Rep. Carrie Rheingans is making National Popular Vote her No. 1 priority, but she has many other sticks in the fire and the leadership at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences explains how they're able to pay qualified teachers $100,000 a year.

Speaker Pro Tem Laurie Pohutsky takes listeners behind the scenes on the crafting of this year's and prior year's Pride Month resolution.

 

Entrepreneur Michael Hoover lays out his case as to why he should be Michigan's next U.S. Senator. 

 

And in an ideal world, how much should the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and legislators make? Tom Cochran, chair of the State Officers Compensation Commission, gives his opinions.

Mark Grebner of Practical Political Consultants talks about the struggles Republicans will have winning the US Senate race in Michigan in 2024, Perry Johnson, John Tuttle, and more. 

Representative Graham Filler talks about how productivity credits, second chance legislation, and criminal justice reform proposals are a step too far. 

And, the food stamp fraud ring Attorney General Dana Nessel flagged last week is only the tip of the iceberg, according to Haywood Talcove of LexisNexis. Learn how the theft of Federal benefits to states like Michigan is fueling organized crime rings in Russia and other countries.

A 59% majority of Capitol insiders believe Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will run for president by the 2028 election.  Bernie Porn from EPIC-MRA talks about this and other results from MIRS Capitol Insiders survey. 

 

Sen. Sylvia Santana responds to the lone no vote on her Juneteenth bill, Rep. Bryan Posthumus is asked about the DeSantis presidential rollout and an expert on housing addresses why we may be seeing the return of trailer parks.

If Republicans don't agree to give the Democrats' early presidential primary immediate effect, the legislature would need to adjourn by Sept. 1 in order to make the mechanics work for an election, says Peter Ruddell of the Honigman law firm. Ruddell and the Baldy Bipartisan crew of Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and John Sellek with Harbor Strategic talk about the legal and political challenges associated with this.

A potential challenge to the income tax rollback, 7th Congressional district possibilities, and Sen. Darrin Camilleri talks about why trains are blocking roads in his district for hours a week, all in this week's show.