Editorial Roundup: Michigan
Detroit News. September 2, 2023.
Editorial: Leave mandate will send businesses packing
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appears to have decided the best way to grow Michigan’s population is to turn it into her version of a workers’ paradise.
Policies pursued this year by the governor and her new Democratic-majority Legislature are largely being dictated by labor unions and tilt the balance of the workplace relationship distinctly to the advantage of employees.
Even if the strategy works and new residents come flocking here to take advantage of a host of new state-mandated benefits, it raises a key question: Where will they work?
A well-tested truth is that raising the cost of doing business in a state lowers the number of jobs businesses create.
The governor’s latest proposal, universal paid family leave, is designed to raise business costs. While the details are still sketchy — the least transparent governor in recent memory once again left her Wednesday address without taking questions — the program apparently will be supported by a payroll tax, similar to the levy that funds unemployment benefits. The Michigan Chamber pegged the cost at $1 billion.
In Minnesota, which has a similar leave mandate, the tax is 0.7%. And while that may not sound like an enormous burden, when added to all the other costs added by policies proposed or already passed it could be the proverbial straw on the backs of many businesses.
Mandated paid leave will add a disincentive to hiring. If, as proposed, it applies to all business with more than 50 employees, employers with growing businesses will have to weigh the cost of hiring beyond that threshold.
Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, proposed a leave program earlier this year to provide 15 weeks off in a year for the birth of a child or a personal or family member’s illness.
That plan would give workers a percentage of their regular pay and be funded by a payroll tax.
It’s not known how the proposal will be affected by a pending Michigan Supreme Court case weighing whether or not the then-Republican Legislature acted unconstitutionally when it sidetracked a voter-passed leave plan. That proposal would provide one hour of paid leave time for every 30 hours worked, generally capped at 72 hours in a year.
That Whitmer intends to model the agency that will administer her family leave program after the Unemployment Insurance Agency is a red flag.
The UIA is the most chronically incompetent agency of state government and has been riddled with mismanagement for decades. Michigan paid up to $8.5 million in fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID pandemic.
A costly new state-mandated employee benefit will be a job killer. It could also very well lead employers who already offer leave to their employees to drop their leave programs and off-load their costs to the state.
Whitmer sees this a way to boost population. But of the 11 states that have mandated leave, only one, Colorado, is among the top 10 fastest growing states, and it sits in 10th place.
If the state feels assuring all workers get paid leave time is essential, it should build incentives into the business tax code to encourage employers to work with their staffs to craft programs that make sense for their workplaces. In unionized workplaces, the leaves should be part of contract negotiations.
That’s a better approach than a one-size-fits-all program administered by a state that has proved inept at managing the employee benefit programs it already has in place.
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Iron Mountain Daily News. August 30, 2023.
Editorial: Michigan sends out call for poll workers
Michigan needs more poll workers.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is encouraging people to sign up. With recent changes to election laws in Michigan, adding workers across the state will be essential.
Clerks need more staff to support the early voting requirements added to the state constitution by voters last November. All jurisdictions will offer at least nine days of early voting in the 2024 elections.
“Poll workers are our most valuable asset in conducting Michigan’s safe, secure and accurate elections,” Benson said in a news release. “Serving as a poll worker is the best way to experience the integrity of our election system firsthand and to ensure the continued strength of our democracy. I’m thankful for the service of Michigan’s thousands of election workers and I encourage everyone to sign up to be a poll worker in their community.”
Residents can learn more and sign up at Michigan.gov/Pollworker.
A poll worker, or election inspector, is a hired, paid and trained local government worker who assists with running local elections in compliance with state law. Each county, city, and township in M ichigan hires and pays election inspectors, who may be assigned different responsibilities.
At a polling place or early voting site, election inspectors greet and check in voters, issue ballots and assist with tabulation. Individuals may also be hired to assist with processing absentee ballots.
To be a poll worker, the person must be at least 16 years of age and a Michigan resident. Those who are at least 18 must be a registered Michigan voter.
Also, poll workers must affiliate with a political party. Although party registration is not a requirement, state law requires poll workers disclose a political affiliation to ensure balanced staffing.
As elections come under heightened scrutiny, another job requirement worth mentioning is the need for courage — or at least having a thick skin.
Election worker intimidation is a key element of the conspiracy alleged in the Georgia case against former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants. The indictment alleges that several defendants falsely accused Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman of committing election crimes. Reportedly, a campaign of harassment led to death threats against both Freeman and her daughter and co-worker, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.
A yearslong investigation by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and investigators from the Secretary of State’s office concluded in June that the claims of election fraud had no merit.
There has been no such drama locally, thankfully, even as accusations of misconduct elsewhere prove hard to wipe out. Self-advertised “election integrity expect” David Clements of New Mexico, who spoke in Dickinson County in May, was continuing to defame Freeman as recently as a year ago, according to Reuters news service.
If rough treatment of election workers gives you pause, there’s another option for service.
Election observers — otherwise known as election challengers or poll watchers — are volunteers who observe the process as permitted by state law.
Election challengers are non-governmental observers who are appointed and issued a credential by a political party, special interest group or qualified organization. Election law limits the number of participants. Poll watchers, meanwhile, are non-governmental volunteer observers without credentials.
To learn more about election inspectors as well as the appointment, rights and duties of election challengers and poll watchers, go to https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/pollworker#FAQs.
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Mining Journal. August 29, 2023.
Editorial: Free school lunch is worth the price
Free school lunch is worth the price
The Cambridge Dictionary defines the idiom’s meaning as “there’s always a cost for something you want.”
We have to agree, as adults, that it’s wise to be wary of the motivations of people, businesses and organizations who may be trying to give us something for nothing. That goes for social media contacts, employers and government officials.
But when it comes to our kids, we believe that free lunch is worth the price. Michigan is one of eight states that now offer free lunch to all grade school and high school students.
An Associated Press article published in Monday’s Mining Journal notes that schools nationwide provided free meals to all at the height of the pandemic, which sent participation soaring.
Then, when federal aid ran out in spring 2022, most states reverted back to their original policy which provided free or discounted meals only for kids who qualified.
“That left out families that weren’t poor enough, stigmatized those who were, and added to growing school meal debt,” the article states.
Every Michigan school district that chooses to participate will be reimbursed for all meals served to students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunches through the National School Lunch Program.
In order to qualify, schools must participate in the NSLP program and serve breakfast and lunch to their students.
The $160 million budget appropriation will make free meals available to all of Michigan’s 1.4 million public school children, and Aug. 4 Michigan Department of Education press release states.
This is important, not just for the simple fact that it keeps all public school students fed while taking the financial burden off of their respective districts, but because kids who are hungry simply don’t learn as well, according to national nonprofit No Kid Hungry.
The NKH website says nearly 60% of children from low income communities reported being hungry when they got to school.
Teachers noticed the impact of hunger as well. In fact, 80% observed that hunger negatively impacted concentration, and 76% saw decreased academic performance when kids come to school hungry. Educators also noted that behavioral issues and instances of illness also increased.
So, while it’s true that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, we believe feeding our public school children is worth the price taxpayers will pay.
While we are sure that this new program may not be perfect out of the gate, it should help our children — and by extension — our public schools and communities.
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