Progress Michigan blog posts.
Michigan’s Superintendent of Education Brian Whiston was on the news program “Off the Record” where he talked about efforts to improve public education in the state. During the segment he drew a hard line in the sand on charter schools — one of Michigan Republicans’ favorite education schemes. Asked about the performance thus far of U.S.…
By Matthew Kovac Three years ago, my future coworkers asked why I wanted to join them in Michigan. I was Skyping in from the Chicago suburbs, fresh from journalism school and just 40 minutes away from a metropolis overflowing with its own racial and economic injustices to expose. Why pick up and move? The…
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Trupiano. It was like meeting someone you know because I had listened to Tony’s radio show on various platforms. Tony’s show gave voice to all of our concerns during the Bush years. He gave a platform to folks talking about issues that no…
The 2017 Kids Count Data Book recently released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Michigan lagging in child well-being. While numbers are an important way to measure the impact of policies, many of us don’t need to look at the data to know the Snyder/Calley way has failed our children. From the Flint Water…
If you’re in the mood for a cobbled-together, bad-talking-point-riddled bit of rank hypocrisy, you should check out Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette’s column in the Detroit News today. Schuette says state elected officials should be compelled to disclose “personal financial information” just like those at the federal level and then follows up by saying…
In 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation making Michigan a “right-to-work” state. At the bill signing, done while thousands protested outside the governor’s office, Snyder explained, “Again, I don’t view this as anti-union at all. I believe this is pro-worker.” Despite Snyder’s corporate rhetoric, wages are down in Michigan since he signed the bill into…
Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley has launched another online ad teasing his expected announcement for a run or higher office later this month. This time, his ad ends with Calley saying: “Government does work when done right.” That’s a strange claim coming from someone like Brian Calley, whose time spent as Rick Snyder’s right hand man…
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. As an organization that believes in public education, we know that teachers who work tirelessly to create learning environments are vital to a strong educational system. To honor that commitment, we decided to each remember our favorite teachers and share our thoughts and memories about them. Hugh Madden,…
In November, the voters of Macomb county ended up electing Karen Spranger as their County Clerk. Now, just four months in, the residents of Macomb county have an extreme case of buyer’s remorse. Spranger is the like the dog who catches the car and has no clue what do with it. In her first…
Last week I was fortunate enough to do what many families around Michigan were doing, spending my son’s Spring Break on a family vacation. Our trip took a slightly unexpected turn. Instead of flying, we ended up driving – all the way to Miami. As we drove through numerous states, several things stood out to…