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.

Michigan House Appropriations Committee Chair Angela Witwer says the state needs more spending on direct economic incentives, not less. She breaks down why along with the significant spending priorities for House Democrats in their passed 2024 budget.

Should Michigan return to fusion voting? Former Republican Congressman Dave Trott says the “common sense” party could temper political extremism by endorsing moderate candidates.

And a former Republican gubernatorial candidate has already announced his candidacy in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional district.  Financial consultant Michael Markey talks about what he learned in 2022 and what he thinks about the Bud Lite controversy.

A former official within what is now the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services concedes that it shouldn't have taken three years for the Detroit News to get copies of COVID-era nursing home complaints. 

Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Sen. John Damoose are working across the aisle on a new twist to an older idea and a former federal Tobacco Products director questions why Michigan and other states aren't spending more on smoking cessation when tobacco use here is more than 50% higher than the national average.

Alexis Wiley, the chief strategist for Moment Strategies, talks about working as the chief of staff for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and her perceptions on the future of Highland Park. 

Rep. Sarah Lightner is asked what legislative Republicans want out of this budget process after none of them have supported a single subcommittee spending plan from the Democrats at this point in the process.  

And Rep. Noah Arbit talks about expanding the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases, expanded penalties on hate crimes, and more.

Political consultant Lis Smith talks about why an early Michigan primary is important even if a President Biden re-nomination appears to be a fait accompli.

 

Sen. Jeff Irwin talks about his no vote on the Gotion plant near Big Rapids, Line 5, his new nursing bills and other issues.

 

And Green Township Supervisor Jim Chapman talks about some of the crazier rumors that have sprouted out as his divided community debated the Gotion Plant. What can stop the plant, at this point, if it can be stopped?

House Minority Leader Matt Hall talks about "the deal" that's stuck in neutral.

 

Former Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite talks about Gov. Whitmer's national presence and why Perry Johnson is running for president.

 

And Rep. Felicia Brabec, the new chair of the Michigan Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus talks about what she'd like to see from the Legislature on gun safe legislation.