It's no secret that this has been a difficult year. But Jack
Lessenberry, Michigan Radio's senior political analyst, thinks we may be
better off in some ways than we know.
This has been a tough and bruising year for Michigan. We lost nearly [...]
As the Michigan Legislature continues to fight over federal education funding, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering why Lansing always seems to be the Grinch…
Christmas is a week from today, and the state is full of haggard people [...] As the state unemployment rate continues to be in the double digits… Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks dealing with job loss may require us to turn to an almost forbidden word…
Today I want to say something shocking, so [...] Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox ruled yesterday that it is, sometimes, illegal for politicians to spend campaign finance money to defend themselves against criminal charges. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what exactly this ruling means...
[...] Lieutenant Governor John Cherry has a proposal to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship by taxing water that’s bottled in the state. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this idea is interesting for reasons that have nothing to do with water...
It’s Monday afternoon, and Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should all be sobered up. What’s more, he thinks our legislature should be, too…
Generally speaking, it is better to be sober than drunk, especially on a Monday [...] The legislature passed a workplace smoking ban yesterday. Governor Granholm is expected to sign it into law. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks what went on behind the scenes in Lansing holds some important lessons…
Yesterday, after years of struggle, [...] The state has published the Michigan Manual every two years since the 1830’s.
Now, some want to do away with the reference book. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks that’s a terrible idea.
You may not know this, but the State [...] Yesterday, we learned that Detroit Public School students had the lowest math scores that have ever been recorded. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to reexamine our priorities… fast.
Two things happened yesterday which, taken together, ought to [...] Once again, there seems to be a chance of passing a workplace smoking ban. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the fine art of legislative compromise…
State Senator Ron Jelinek, a Republican from the Southwest corner of [...] For years, the Great Lakes have been threatened by the approach of Asian carp coming up the Mississippi. Now, at last, politicians seem to be taking notice. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the politics of carp...
The legislature will soon be finished for the year, but when they return in January, they will face another budget deficit. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry spoke with the Michigan Speaker of the House about what lies ahead…
I talked [...] This week’s sudden ouster of General Motors’ chairman sent shock waves through the auto industry. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers something very similar that happened once before...
For those with reasonably long memories, this week’s ouster of [...] The Michigan Supreme Court adopted a new rule last week that is designed to give people more confidence in the integrity of their decision-making. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry explains…
Michigan’s highest court hasn’t been the worst state supreme court in the [...] The Michigan Legislature returns today, and turns its attention to a package of education reforms that could mean $400 million dollars in federal funding. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they need to move fast.
In the last few months, the politicians [...]
Last week, a new paper called the Detroit Daily Press began publishing. It lasted less than a week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at the troubled newspaper business today.
Newspapers in this country have been in trouble ever since a thing [...]
Many people set their alarm clocks for the wee hours of the morning today in order to take advantage of all of those shopping deals. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why people do it… and it’s not necessarily for the sales…
On this Thanksgiving Day, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has some things we should be thankful for…
Here’s an arresting statistic: If the Detroit Lions somehow win their traditional Thanksgiving football game today, they will have won as many games [...] Democrat Alma Wheeler Smith is running for governor on an unusual platform. She wants to raise taxes. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks that might not be as politically crazy as it sounds.
Politicians these days survive bankruptcy, extramarital affairs, and drug [...] A new poll came out yesterday about what people are looking for in a Governor. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the poll actually shows us what kind of campaign we should NOT want…
Years ago, I had to stay [...] The University of Michigan’s annual economic forecast got plenty of attention last week for its job loss predictions. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the real news from the seminar was largely overlooked.
The University of Michigan unveiled its [...] The legislature is still in session, and U of M's annual
economic forecast indicates we've got more hard times ahead. Senior
Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has a suggestion as to how we might get
beyond this.
Here's the good news. Just in case you [...]
Governor Granholm is asking students to pressure state lawmakers to restore funding to the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to focus on the long-term problem of school funding…
Michigan is in a profound financial [...] President Obama has just left China… and an increasing number of Michigan leaders have been making trips to that country in an aim to boost trade. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look behind the scenes.
Here’s a [...] Some Democrats think former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s legal problems may hurt Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains…
There’s a 1980s Soviet film called Repentance, in which the corpse of a hated political leader keeps [...] General Motors announced this morning that it intends to start paying its taxpayer loans back early. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks there’s more to this deal than there seems…
We have become so used to bad news [...] They say that those who don’t know the past are doomed to repeat it. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry worries that today’s students know far less than they should.
The other day, when I was talking about Veterans Day, I [...] In recent years, Maine and Minnesota have elected independent governors. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if it could happen here.
For many years, Michigan voters were famous for their independent streak. Even before ticket-splitting was fashionable, we were famous [...] This year’s budget was finally passed… but the governor has been urging a last-minute revenue increase to replace cuts to the public schools. Republicans, however, are refusing to consider it. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at what’s really going on.
A major new study shows that the state’s roads are rapidly falling apart. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what’s going on…
Here’s something that shouldn’t surprise you. Michigan roads are in bad shape, and getting [...] Veterans Day is Wednesday. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry suggests we think a little more about what the day really means.
Wednesday is Veterans Day, which means that the banks will be closed, there won’t be any mail delivery, [...] The state House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that would use the remaining federal stimulus money to restore some of the cuts to public schools… However, it may not pass the senate. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what’s going on...
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing romped to an easy re-election victory
this week. But Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry note that he did
so even after taking some highly unpopular stands.
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing used to be a record-setter when he was a [...]
A funny thing happened in yesterday’s elections. Voters in Detroit and elsewhere actually voted for higher taxes. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why…
Here’ s something interesting you may have overlooked about yesterday’s elections. In Detroit, where [...] Rank-and-file union members at Ford overwhelmingly turned down a new round of contract concessions yesterday. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says we shouldn’t be all that surprised by the news…
Ford Motor Company learned an ancient and painful lesson [...] Governor Granholm and the state Legislature finally agreed on a budget last week… but it’s a document that no one seems happy with. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at what it really means…
On Friday, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed [...] Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is back in court… and back in the news this week. This has got Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinking about what it means to be a hero…
This is a story of two very large men, [...] Last year, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing embryonic stem cell research. But, as Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry reports, some lawmakers in Lansing are now trying to change things…
You might have thought the legislature would be [...] Lawmakers in both Lansing and Detroit have been criticized this year for failing to get their jobs done. But, as Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry notes, Detroiters, at least, are trying to do something about it…
Let’s give Detroiters [...] Michigan’ s agricultural extension programs have been helping the state’s farmers for nearly a century. Now, the program may be threatened with extinction. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has not specifically said she will veto funding [...] The current state budget crisis isn't over, but everybody agrees
we'll have another one next year, and the year after that. Senior political
analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders when we are going to get to the root of
the problem.
You may think you have [...]
The 2010 election is still more than a year away… but our state’s politicians are busily endorsing each other. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering if anyone really cares…
We’ve got nearly a year to go before the next [...] Lawmakers are now battling Governor Granholm’s veto of some money for some school districts… which came at the same time that the Governor was calling for more money for the schools. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what’s really going on…
This year marks the 50th anniversary of two cars that Detroit would rather forget - the Edsel and the Corvair. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry looks at what lessons we can learn from both cars...
Hard to believe now, but half [...] On Thursday, the state will rename Tricentennial State Park in Detroit as the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks it is a long overdue honor…
There’s going to be a ceremony in Detroit Thursday afternoon [...] This week, HBO is in Michigan to film a made-for-TV movie called "You Don’t Know Jack." Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says, he did in fact know the infamous Jack Kevorkian…
HBO is coming to Michigan this week to film [...]
Ohio voters this fall may approve adding four new casinos and there is a move in Michigan to add eight more. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering if that’s really such a good idea...
I have a brilliant [...] Governor Granholm and Democratic and Republican lawmakers continue to debate the state’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the legislature could learn a lesson or two from the auto industry…
Long ago, say back in the 1970s, Michigan [...] The legislature agreed on a budget to fund schools last week. But, as Michigan Radio Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry notes, lawmakers are far from sorting out the entire budget…
There was a sense of relief late last week when the legislature [...] The Michigan Legislature passed an education budget last night that severely cuts per pupil spending for the next fiscal year. Michigan Radio Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering if we have our priorities straight…
Consider what your state legislature did late [...] Two plus two equal four. What Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry can't understand is why the state legislature just doesn't seem to get it.
I have some top-secret information to convey to the Michigan Legislature which could be of enormous help to them in [...]
Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the inspiring story of one Michigan lawmaker...
If you wanted to find an amazing personal success story in the Michigan Legislature, you would have a hard time improving on Rashida [...] For weeks, leaders in the Michigan Legislature have been meeting behind closed doors in an effort to resolve the state’s budget deficit. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks it may be time to reinvent the wheel...
For weeks, the leaders [...]
Michigan doesn’t pay much attention to Toledo, even though it’s on our border and shares a similar economy. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the city might have something to teach us...
I spend a fair amount of [...] In the face of continuing bad economic news, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks state lawmakers need to focus on what’s important…
Everybody who has been paying attention knows that Michigan is in trouble - public sector, private sector, [...] State budget negotiations begin again this week at the capitol. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks its time our legislative leaders get down to business...
Here’s something to think about this fine Monday afternoon. As it stands, fifty-two days from [...] Congress has voted to extend the cash-for-clunkers program. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders what happens next…
Well, it’s been a pretty good week. Congress has passed a two billion dollar extension of the cash-for-clunkers program, which ought to [...] The Kwame Kilpatrick legal saga may be over. But, Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the nagging questions that remain about the former mayor’s use of campaign funds…
For more than thirty years, Maurice Kelman was a constitutional law [...] The possibility of bringing some Guantanamo prisoners to a federal prison in Standish has gotten some politicians upset. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks our state is up to the challenge.
My favorite story yesterday was the one about a [...]
Today is Election Day in dozens of communities across the state. Turnout is expected to be low… but, as Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, some results will have a significant impact...
I try to vote in virtually every [...] Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he is seeing a few positive signs in our precarious economy...
Most of the time, I play the role of Cassandra in these daily radio essays. She was the ancient Greek prophet who was [...] Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has some questions about the Cash for Clunkers rebate program...
So let me get this straight. People are attacking the Cash for Clunkers bill because it worked. I’m not quite sure I understand.
True, it [...]
