As the Michigan Legislature’s “Lame Duck” year-end session begins in earnest, the West Michigan Policy Forum (WMPF) is calling on Michigan legislators to disregard failed…
Starting February 21, Michigan’s paid sick leave legislation goes into effect, requiring all businesses, including small businesses and restaurants, to provide paid sick leave to…
On February 21, Michigan’s new paid sick leave legislation will go into effect, impacting workers and businesses across the state. As a result, small businesses…
Effective February 21, 2025, Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act will replace the Paid Medical Leave Act, following the Michigan Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling. As…
Small businesses are the cornerstone of Michigan’s economy, particularly in West Michigan, where local entrepreneurs fuel innovation and job creation. Yet, misguided policy decisions in…
The West Michigan Policy Forum (WMPF) recently wrapped up its highly anticipated biennial conference in Grand Rapids, where nearly 300 business leaders, policymakers, and community…
It’s been said that democracy dies in darkness. In related news, our state Legislature formally approved an irresponsible state budget in the dark of night…
Michigan’s state elected officials still have important work to do on the state budget; work they should discuss this week at the annual Mackinac Policy…
Although it’s been said that April showers bring May flowers, not everything is coming up roses for Michigan’s economy. Our economic garden, if you will,…
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her sixth annual State of the State address this week. While we agree with the governor about the policy areas…
Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced with great fanfare that 700,000 Michigan households were getting a new tax break. It was good news because any reduction…
People enjoy making New Year’s resolutions. And the media loves to write about them. We’ve determined eight much-needed 2024 resolutions from actual recent news articles…
GRAND RAPIDS – (Dec. 14, 2023) –The West Michigan Policy Forum today expressed disappointment that the state’s Growing Michigan Together Council is not calling out…
For the first time since 1978, the Michigan Legislature decided to stop working before Thanksgiving and took the rest of the year off. The legislature’s…
Michigan is moving further away from being a top 10 state, as shown by the West Michigan Policy Forum’s “Michigan Economic Scorecard.” This continuously updated…
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “Growing Michigan Together Council” has become the “Growing Michigan Taxes Council.” According to a media report, it plans to recommend tax hikes…
Bolger: “The political ‘climate change’ our state Capitol is experiencing right now is directly responsible for raising people’s taxes, decimating our state’s population, and putting…
Michigan has a new powerhouse group advocating for workers, families, and job creators: The Great Lakes Growth Coalition. The coalition brings together a diversity of…
Mandatory paid leave ultimately hurts everyone by making it more difficult for companies to make on-time deliveries of needed products and services. That’s the message…
Michigan has a bad track record of government-run programs. That’s worth remembering now that Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature are trying to pass a…
September 18, 2023 TO: Michigan Population Commission Co-chairs John Rakolta and Shirley Stancato Individuals and families seek what is best in order to flourish. There are…
For small businesses, few things matter more than a level playing field and a strong workforce. The West Michigan Policy Forum agrees with Gov. Gretchen…
“We all believe supporting working families is important, and our members provide paid leave benefits for their employees. But a government-mandated bureaucracy is not the…
Michigan’s education system is heading in the wrong direction. Thankfully, a new group is fighting for education that actually works for students and families: Talent…
When it comes to making Michigan a top-10 state and economy, we can’t overlook criminal justice reform. The simple fact is that 32,186 Michigan residents…
Michigan’s former Right-to-work law has always been about jobs. And at Southwest Michigan First, we believe the greatest force for change is a job. With…
Students across Michigan celebrated the official end of the 2022-23 school year recently, but it’s important to note that school doesn’t necessarily have to be…
Despite increased funding, Michigan’s K-12 public schools have been performing worse every year. That’s because it’s not a funding issue, it’s a public policy issue.…
Our elected leaders are getting ready to meet and clink beers at next week’s Mackinac Policy Conference, but they certainly don’t deserve “cheers” from Michigan…
Michigan’s K-12 education system is sliding backward and moving in a direction that will hold our students back. Our children deserve data-based interventions that will…
Michigan employers continue to face a severe labor shortage, slowing down business growth. Unfortunately, these challenges are compounded by a declining state population and the…
Our state Legislature is taking troubling steps to make Michigan public schools less accountable and transparent to parents and taxpayers. The state House has approved…
With confidence in our politicians near an all-time low in the United States, it is essential for all elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, to…
The West Michigan Policy Forum today thanked state business coalition members for taking a brave stand against repealing the state’s landmark right-to-work law. WMPF Policy…
Although right-to-work continues to be strongly supported by a majority of Michigan residents, the state House recently approved bills to repeal our state’s RTW law. …
Nearly 50,000 people have fled Michigan over the last three years, moving to states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Arizona.…
The Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) is preparing to tackle the heaviest challenges facing Michigan students this year through programs and policies that prioritize quality,…
Last November, Tennessee joined eight other states in recognizing worker freedom as a fundamental right by constitutionalizing right-to-work - the law that protects workers from…
As Michigan’s Right-to-work (RTW) law celebrates 10 years as a statute, it also faces the possibility of repeal from the incoming Democratic majority. In this…
In 2018, at the urging of the National Federation of Independent Business in Michigan (NFIB) and the business community, the Michigan legislature adopted the minimum…
As the legislative session winds down, investors and leaders of the West Michigan Policy Forum heard from Michigan Representative Matt Hall of Comstock Township about…
Timing is everything. Shortly after the West Michigan Policy Forum’s conference calling on state leaders to fix Michigan’s failing K-12 education system we received national…
In 2018, our state made a commitment to improve our education system when legislators approved a bill that holds schools accountable for their performance and…
This summer, Michigan legislators agreed on a $76 billion budget, which included fulfilling pension promises. The West Michigan Policy Forum is proud of our lawmakers…
There’s $7 billion that remains available on Michigan’s balance sheet, half of which is leftover one-time federal stimulus dollars. Michigan’s fiscal year 2023 budget signed…
The hospitality industry is filled with incredible servers, who, for the most part, intentionally chose this business because of the perks of tipping. In an…
This month, The West Michigan Policy Forum (WMPF) hosted a conversation with Michigan State Senator and Senate President Pro Tempore Aric Nesbitt. Senator Nesbitt lives…
Tax season in an election year creates an interesting dynamic, including various proposals for how to better collect and spend Michigan's taxpayer dollars. These discussions…
Michigan's governor is on the brink of making long-term financial decisions for our state's future in the midst of a nationally watched re-election campaign. The…
The West Michigan Policy Forum took communicating messaging and actions very seriously from the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal first and foremost…
