MIRS Monday Podcast

Budget-making season has kicked off in Michigan's Capitol, with the Governor proposing to legislators a $88.1 billion spending plan based on $800 million in suggested taxes and a $400 million rainy day fund transfer.  How do fiscal policy thinkers feel about the proposed tax boosts? Is it appropriate for the School Aid Fund to be spent on community colleges? Also, what are the low-hanging fruits for reducing the size of the state government's budget?  To discuss all of this and more is Michael LaFaive – the senior director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy – and Rachel Richards, the Michigan League for Public Policy's fiscal policy director (1:00)

Is a two-year ban on department legislators from becoming lobbyists possible as individuals like Republican House Speaker Matt Hall try reforming the state Capitol institution? Also, ahead of the May 5 special election in Bay City, Midland, and Saginaw, what should Republicans be doing as their party has been losing 2025-2026 elections throughout the United States. From gameday party chip dips to expected impacts of AI on elections this year, MIRS talks about it all with Tony Zammit – the former Michigan GOP communications director – and Adam Bitely, the public affairs vice president of the Lansing-based Bellwether Public Relations firm (:25). 

Amid protests against federal immigration enforcement, MIRS talks to two Michigan sources. Alicia Guevara of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation talks about concerns of a "chilling effect" on childcare and early learning participation due to fears of ICE arrests outside facilities (3:09).  On the other hand, Diane Schindlbeck, a Newaygo County Republican, talks about her small business being targeted because of her personal support of immigration and law enforcement (24:05).  MIRS also talks with Dr. Minal Patel, a University of Michigan professor, about medical debt, and policy efforts around Lansing to try minimizing its effects on Michigan residents (41:00). 

On this week's edition, MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn fills in and talks with John Yob of Strategic National about Perry Johnson, the newest candidate to get into the gubernatorial race. (:33) Also, MIRS shares audio from the Northern Michigan Policy Conference and the comments from six major gubernatorial candidates about their view on increasing housing stock in high-growth communities like Traverse City. (14:20)

MIRS continues its Democratic-Republican roundtable series, featuring Republican political strategist Jason Cabel Roe, and Democratic consultant Michael Radtke Jr., a Sterling Heights City Councilmember.  Did the autoworker who called President Donald Trump a 'pedophile protector' steal the show during the President's Detroit visit last week? Will a divided state Legislature, amid an election year, consider giving Detroit power to create new local taxes? From state constitutional conventions to treacherous weather commutes, Jason and Michael discuss this and more (2:00).  Also, MIRS sits down with Saginaw Republican Jason Tunney, the lawyer and recent family business head running in Michigan's special 35th State Senate race (39:15). 

MIRS kicks things off with a consultant edition of the Republican-Democratic roundtable, featuring Elena Greer – Democratic political professional in East Lansing – and Republican Greg Manz of Direct Edge Campaigns. Together they dive into what impacts data centers could have on the '26 elections, if state House Republicans can pull off property tax reform this year and talk in Democratic circles that Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II should run for Secretary of State instead of governor (1:20).  MIRS also checks in on the 35th state Senate district, where its special elections primaries take place on Feb. 3. MIRS sits down with Midland Republican Christian Velasquez, the former Dow Corning engineer and Michigan Chamber of Commerce director running for the seat (32:20). 

In the first episode of 2026, MIRS sits down with Rep. Samantha Steckloff, the Farmington Hills Democrat. She reflects on last year's road funding negotiations, and her binder of "about 13 different tax increases."  She describes the sustainability concerns ahead for how Michigan invests in infrastructure, and also talks about the bill packages she's already partnering with Republicans on (3:05). 

Today marks MIRS' final podcast episode of 2025. The MIRS team was joined by Rick Pluta, senior capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network, to continue the "Best Of" series, as well as to reflect on the state Senate's role this past year. Discussing Michigan's policy movers and political shakers throughout '25, the team names MIRS' Senator of the Year (5:25). 

The MIRS team, along with Colin Jackson of the Michigan Public Radio Network, continue the "Best Of" award series. The series includes discussions on Michigan's policy movers and political shakers over the past year.  Who do you think this year should be MIRS' "Minority Lawmaker of the Year" among House Democrats and Senate Republicans? (4:14) Also, who takes the title of MIRS' "House Member of the Year" for 2025? (30:20) 

MIRS conducts a year-end interview with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, the Grand Rapids Democrat. She talks about wanting to expand brownfield redevelopment tax breaks to cultural institutions that create experiences instead of products.  She adds that it's naive to think Michigan won't have data centers, but they will have an obligation to "be good neighbors" (1:14).  Also, MIRS meets Jacob Fallman, the Sugar Law Center's UIA Policy Coordinator. He talks about the push for a bill to stop the Unemployment Insurance Agency from collecting COVID-19 overpayments made five years ago (28:55). 

On Friday afternoon, the MIRS team kicked off recordings for MIRS' "Best Of" nominating series, discussing Michigan's policy movers and political shakers.  During non-statewide election years, MIRS names a freshman legislator of the year. The state House's freshman class size has dropped from 55 to 12 between 2023 and '25, and 31 bills have been signed by the Governor. In a year of fewer Capitol newcomers and public acts, how were this year's freshmen able to stand out? (:53)

The day before Thanksgiving, MIRS caught up with Port Huron Republican Andrew Beeler, who served in the state House from 2020 through '24. He talks about his new bid in the Thumb Region's 25th Senate district (:47). Since leaving the Legislature, he's taken ownership of a small floor covering business. He talks about property taxes being among Republicans' hottest issues going into 2026, boiling debates around data centers and A.I. and how he's connecting with the district's agricultural community. 

MIRS sits down with state Republican House Speaker Matt Hall of Richland Township. He says that property tax reform will be at the center of what House Republicans do in 2026 (2:56). He also talks about working with the Senate Democrats' floor leader to create a new business tax credit promoting job creation in Michigan. Hall says leaders are coming closer to an economic development deal, but House Republicans want to see the corporate incentive "SOAR Fund" permanently repealed and the state's "MEGA tax credits" eliminated in order to reach it. Now here is MIRS Host Samantha Shriber, who was joined this week by MIRS editor Kyle Melinn and House correspondent Maggie George.

MIRS hosts a former legislator edition of the Republican-Democratic roundtable discussion, welcoming Leslie Love – a former Detroit representative – and previous state Sen. Rick Jones, a Grand Ledge Republican.  Together, they discuss state Senate personnel recently leaving their posts due to their political side hustles, a bill allowing sergeants at arms to provide security outside of the Capitol and how they would handle the rise of artificial intelligence (3:42). 

Today's episode is a "Meet the Candidates" edition of MIRS Monday, a double feature including a Paw Paw Republican and Detroit Democrat, working on different sides of the state to become Michigan senators.  Republican Chris Moraitis is an attorney and son-in-law of a former Southwest Michigan state senator. He's coming in hot in the race to replace term-limited Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt in the 20th Senate district, with more than $101,000 raised in around two months (1:07).  Also, Democrat Justin Onwenu is right now serving as Detroit's entrepreneurship and economic opportunity director, searching for ways the city can promote business start-ups. He talks about running in the new 1st Senate district, covering a chunk of Detroit and several Downriver communities (27:16). 

Today's episode presents a Democratic lawmaker roundtable on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the food assistance program covering low-income folks' groceries.  Although President Donald Trump was ordered to cover SNAP with $5.25 billion during the federal government shutdown, some Democrats in Michigan still think a state-level emergency food assistance fund is necessary.  MIRS gets updates from Democratic state Reps. Betsy Coffia of Traverse City and Tonya Myers Phillips of Detroit on why they think Michigan needs to be creating funding for emergency food aid. They also talk about issues in their districts they believe aren't getting enough attention, as well as whether the window for bipartisan collaboration in Lansing is getting smaller or larger (4:38). 

For today's episode, MIRS is getting caught up on Detroit politics ahead of the city's Nov. 4 general election. If City Council President Mary Sheffield becomes mayor, as projected, how does the Detroit-Lansing relationship change?  Also, state Reps. Tyrone Carter and Karen Whitsett are both running in competitive city council races. Will they be successful or defeated by their more progressive opponents who are campaigning hard in the city?  MIRS sits down with Samual Robinson of Detroit One Million and Malachi Barrett of Bridge Detroit to discuss all of this and more (2:28). 

Today's Democratic-Republican roundtable edition of MIRS Monday features Jim Lower – the former Republican state representative and Sparta village manager – and Eastpointe City Councilmember Cardi DeMonaco Jr., a Democrat (1:26).  Cardi and Jim share their reactions on Michigan's newest road funding system, lawmakers possibly tackling intoxicating hemp drinks and the future of government-run economic development. Also, which political figure is catching their attention as a star in fall of 2025? 

The Michigan State Police reports that last year, about 40.7% of deadly traffic crashes involved drugs and/or alcohol. But at the same time, according to Brian Swift of the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, oral testing devices to detect recent substance use are sitting on shelves, collecting dust and unable to be used because they're not legally binding right now in Michigan. In a policy-centered episode, MIRS speaks with Brian – who lost his parents in a car crash involving drugs – and Troy Meder, the Chesaning Village police chief and a Drug Recognition Expert instructor. Brian and Troy discuss the push for oral roadside fluid testing in Michigan (:59).

This past week, legislators passed a state budget, giving schools $10,050 per-student, cutting back substantially on economic development spending and reducing government job posts. On this episode of the MIRS Monday Podcast, host Samantha Shriber walks listeners through the day, from Thursday afternoon through after 3 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 (1:21).  Also, $1.85 billion in new yearly money was secured for roads, but not without protests. Weed will be placed under a new 24 percent wholesale tax, and businesses won't have access to the same Trump-era tax deduction benefits on the state level.