| Public
Sector Reports
1995
Michigan Roundup
| Michigan Periscope | Health
Policy Bulletin |
Michigan Economic Bulletin
Public Policy Advisor
A periodic series that examines
such subjects as fiscal and tax policy, health and environmental
issues, and education policy and offers commentary on current
or emerging political, social, and policy issues.
- The
New Policy Agenda
by Craig Ruff, M.P.P., President
Comments on the new conservative
political environment in the state and nation and predicts
the 1995 policy agenda in Michigan.
January 13
- What
Price Federal Tax Cuts?
by Robert Kleine, M.B.A., Vice President and Senior Economist
Presents the reasons why
the proposed federal tax cuts may be ill-advised. Explains
why the federal debt is more of a problem than spending.
January 13
- Unfinished
Business: Renewing the Dialogue on Race
by David Gruber, M.A., J.D., Director of Public Involvement
Discusses the persistence
of race as an issue in our nation and examines ways in
which dialogue can be generated among disparate groups
in our society to move toward ameliorating racial and
ethnic divisions.
January 20
- K–12
Education Reform: What to Expect in 1995
by Linda Headley, Affiliated Consultant
Summarizes the 1995 education
policy priorities of key state policy makers (including
the governor, superintendent of public instruction, and
key legislators) and opinion leaders in the field (including
school administrative organization and union executive
directors).
February 3
- Tax
Cut Fever Revisited
by Robert Kleine
Examines the effect of Governor
John Engler's proposed tax cuts on the state economy,
tax system, and budget.
February 17
- Overview
and Analysis of the Governor’s Recommended Budget,
Fiscal Year 1995–96
by Robert Kleine; Laurie A. Cummings, M.S., Economist; and
Alec Rodney, M.A., Economist
Examines the governor's
spending proposals—and the economic and revenue assumptions
on which they are based—for the fiscal year that will
begin on October 1, 1995; compares recommended spending
to that of the current year and capsulizes the governor's
budget policies.
March 10
- Rethinking
the School Code
by Laurie A. Cummings
Examines the current effort
to amend—or repeal—the Michigan School Code. Presents
brief background about the code and an update on reform
efforts, followed by comments by former school superintendent
Robert Docking about the current code's strengths and
shortcomings and changes he believes will be most helpful
to local districts and children.
March 17
- A
Conversation with Secretary of State Candice Miller
by Christine Fedewa, Vice President of Operations
Reports on a question and
answer session with Michigan's new secretary of state.
Ms. Miller responded to questions about her view of her
office and her objectives in serving the people of the
state; her administrative and political styles; her background
and the influences in her life; and her future.
April 7
- Michigan
Economic Growth Authority: Ill-Advised Industrial Policy
by Alec Rodney and Robert Kleine
Discusses the proposed Michigan
Economic Growth Authority, which would confer tax breaks
for up to twenty years on a small number of manufacturing
and mining businesses, if they create and maintain a certain
number of jobs; suggests alternative economic development
tools.
April 14
- Block
Grants: New Federalism Revisited
by Robert Kleine
Discusses the ramifications
of replacing federal entitlement or categorical programs
with proposed federal block grants to state and local
governments.
April 21
- The
Context of the Political Devolution Revolution
by Craig Ruff, President
Comments on the context
and consequences of the devolution revolution—the shifting
of responsibility from larger, national loci of power
to lower levels of government, private entities, the community,
the neighborhood, home, and the individual.
May 5
- Mr.
Common Sense: MSU’s M. Peter McPherson
by Christine Fedewa, Vice President of Operations
Profiles Michigan State
University President M. Peter McPherson, providing background
on his Michigan roots, professional history, and goals
and actions as MSU's 19th president.
May 12
- Will
New Polluter-Pay Law Help Michigan’s Older Urban Areas?
by Jack Bails, Vice President and Senior Consultant for
Natural Resources
Discusses the new state
polluter-pay legislation, which has created considerable
controversy; the bill's potential effect on older urban
areas is given particular attention in this analysis.
June 2
- Interview
with Dr. Robert Docking: Market-Driven Education
by Laurie A. Cummings, Senior Consultant, and Brian VanKlompenberg,
Research Assistant
Summarizes the second of
four PSC interviews with Dr. Robert Docking, in which
he responds to the view that competition among schools
is the most effective mechanism of education reform.
July 28
- Overview
and Analysis of the Michigan Budget, Fiscal Year 1995–96
by Robert Kleine and Brian VanKlompenberg
Describes the coming year's
state budget, which is relatively generous and appears
to be based on realistic revenue assumptions. Includes
changes from the governor's recommendations and also from
current year appropriations.
August 4
- Motor
Fuel Taxes: Michigan Is in the Slow Lane
by Robert Kleine
Examines trends in Michigan
transportation revenue from 1982 to the present—with particular
attention to the motor fuel taxes, compares Michigan with
other states, and suggests changes to resolve funding
problems and help keep Michigan’s economy on the move.
September 15
- State
Legislators Plan Ambitious Fall Session
by Martin Ackley, Consultant for Health Policy
Outlines Michigan legislators’
priorities for the fall session.
September 22
- Russian
Roulette at the Polls
by Craig Ruff
Advises shortening the
Michigan ballot, one of the longest in the nation, by
(1) abolishing the State Board of Education, (2) changing
the boards of University of Michigan, Michigan State University,
and Wayne State University from being elected to being
part elected and part appointed, and (3) changing the
state supreme and appeals court benches from being elected
to being appointed with Senate confirmation and voter
ratification.
November 10
- Federal
Income Tax Reform
by Robert Kleine
Discusses some of the proposals
for changing the federal individual income tax and analyzes
their effect on taxpayers.
December 8
- Sharon
Rothwell: A Profile
by David Kimball, Senior Consultant for Public Policy
Profiles Gov. John Engler’s
chief of staff, reporting on her background in public
policy and her experience in local and state government
in North Carolina, Delaware, and Michigan.
Michigan Roundup (top)
A one-page summary of Michigan
legislative activity and political news of significance to
government operations, public policy, and voter attitudes.
Published weekly during legislative sessions and intermittently
during legislative recesses.
Written by David L. Kimball and Jonathan Hansen, Senior
Consultants for Public Policy.
- January
20
/and/ 27
- February 2
/and/ 10
/and/ 16
/and/ 23
- March 3
/and/ 9
/and/ 17
/and/ 23
/and/ 30
- April 7
/and/ 21
/and/ 27
- May 5
/and/ 12
/and/ 19
/and/ 26
- June 2
/and/ 9
/and/ 16
- September 14
/and/ 22
/and/ 29
- October 6
/and/ 13
/and/ 20
/and/ 27
- November 2
/and/ 10
/and/ 30
- December 8
/and/ 15
Michigan
PeriSCope (top)
Brief commentaries and opinion pieces on
issues of the day. Published periodically, sometimes in conjunction
with Michigan Roundup.
Written by various staff members.
Health Policy
Bulletin (top)
A monthly publication that
provides analysis of important health care issues under consideration
by the legislature, executive branch, and professional associations.
Written by Peter Pratt, Ph.D., Vice President and Senior
Consultant for Health Care Policy; Corina P. Andorfer, Consultant
for Health Policy; Martin Ackley, Consultant for Health Policy;
and Christa A. Rosenberg, M.H.S., Consultant for Health Policy.
- Medicaid
Outlines the changes
occurring and likely in the Michigan Medicaid program,
particularly the moves toward managed care and expanded
eligibility. Explains why program costs are swelling and
points out the conflict between efforts to cover more
people and also to cut costs.
January
- POs
and PHOs—A Response to Managed Health Care (Part 1)
Defines physician organizations
and physician hospital organizations: entities being established
by member doctors and facilities to retain, in response
to managed care, a certain amount of financial and clinical
control over the practice of medicine. Describes two such
organizations in Michigan and cites a Michigan State Medical
Society study on the organization and financing of POs
and PHOs in the state.
February
- POs
and PHOs—A Response to Managed Health Care (Part 2)
Discusses governance,
risk, and regulation of POs and PHOs.
March
- MDPH
Director’s Conference: Healthy Communities
Reports the highlights
of the annual conference hosted by the director of the
Michigan Department of Public Health. This year's topic
was the vital role in improving health that locales can
play when they engage their residents and use their resources
to bring about change.
April
- Committees
on Health Policy—What’s Next?
Reports on interviews
with the chairs of the Michigan House and Senate committees
on health policy. The topic for discussion was state health
policy direction in the coming months.
May
- The
ERISA: Will Proposed Changes Stymie Certain Health Care
Reforms?
Outlines current ERISA
provisions, proposed changes, and what ERISA expansion,
particularly to multiple employer welfare arrangements
(MEWAs), may mean.
June
- Will
Michigan See a Combined Public Health/Mental Health Department?
Discusses speculation
about the governor’s intention in tapping the director
of the Michigan Department of Mental Health to serve also
as interim director of the Department of Public Health.
Presents some of the arguments pro and con for a merger
of the two agencies.
July
- Michigan
Statewide Health Data Base
Describes proposed legislation
mandating a statewide clearinghouse for health-related
data that would provide specific and compatible information
on both providers and purchasers.
August
- Attorney
General’s Ruling Could Expand Health Care Access
Discusses the implications
of the ruling that Michigan State Hospital Finance Authority
loans must be available to "hospital facilities"
(which includes outpatient clinics) as well as to hospitals.
September
- PlusCare
Rescued from the Minus Column
Describes the state funding
ups and downs of the Wayne County managed-care program
for the poor.
October
- Medi-cuts
May Take Bite Out of Providers and Private Sector
Points out the problems
that potentially face health care providers and the private
sector as a result of the resolution of the federal budget.
November
- Outdated
Vaccine Leads To Privatization
Explains how vaccine production
advances and Michigan’s disappointing immunization rate
are combining to move the state Biologic Products Division
into the private sector.
December
Michigan Economic
Bulletin (top)
A monthly review of economic
indicators, state revenue receipts, and appropriations and
tax developments. Each issue contains current good and bad
economic news, an article of special focus, a list of publications
of interest, and economic news from the state capitol; in
alternating quarters, a special insert presents a general
economic forecast or analyzes economic data for each of the
seven Michigan regions.
Written by Robert J. Kleine, M.B.A., Vice President and
Senior Economist, and Laurie A. Cummings, M.S., Economist.
(available in Acrobat® format)
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