Taxpayers to get bill for Pontiac school mess

The meltdown of the Pontiac School district is about to show up on the tax bills of property owners in several Oakland County communities.

Was Superman the hero of the 20th century?

My nomination for American hero of the 20th century is someone who lived half his life in disguise and the other half as the world's most recognizable man.

Editorial: Early budget deal good for state

Snyder and GOP leaders have cut a deal on a budget surplus that places lawmakers in a good position to finish the 2014 fiscal year budget by their self-imposed June 1 target.

Obama and the Congress who cried 'Nixon'

'Once upon a time, there was a boy tending the sheep who would continually go up to the embankment and shout, 'Help, there's a wolf!' The farmers would all come running only to find out that what the boy said was not true. Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didn't believe him and no one came to his aid. The wolf ate the whole flock.'

Letters: Donald Trump comes to Michigan

Re: Lauren Abdel-Razzaq's May 22 report,

Letters: What to do with the surplus?

Re: Chad Livengood's May 22 report, 'GOP, Gov. reach deal on surplus': Shoving right to work down the throats of Michiganians will be Gov. Snyder's undoing.

A new model for better evaluating Mich. teachers

The past couple of years have seen significant changes to Michigan's state government, with no issue receiving more attention than our public education system.

Editorial: Lower fuel taxes make for friendly skies

A package of bills in the state Legislature would remedy the situation by helping to keep commercial airlines as major contributors to Michigan's economy. The legislation should be approved.

Common Core the wrong plan for Michigan

'Draw a deep breath,' I tell myself before explaining my opposition to the Common Core system. There's not one reason to oppose it, there are several. And they go to the core of our being as liberty-loving Americans.

Labor Voices: GOP's agenda sells Michiganians short

It is time for Michiganians to have a real conversation about both value and values.

The big chill: AP, the IRS and free speech

Chilling effect. That's the term lawyers and judges use to describe the result of government actions that deter people from exercising their right of free speech.

Letters

Re: The Detroit News' May 21 Editorial, 'Michigan becoming a smart investment': This is exactly what the state needs to retain top talent.

Letters: Are surpluses bad news?

Re: Nolan Finley's May 19 column,

Editorial: Michigan becoming a smart investment

Money attracts money, and Michigan is attracting a lot more venture capital today than it has in a decade and at a faster pace than the rest of the nation.

The zero-emission vehicle myth

Auto enthusiasts were thrilled last week as green automaker Tesla made it into the black, earning $11 million profit on revenue of $562 million in the first ...

Our choice: U.S. energy renaissance, or lights out?

Our nation is on the cusp of the holy grail of energy independence and a jobs and investment boon that would accompany it – that is, unless it is stunted by ...

Obama latest president to play defense in 2nd term

What is it about presidents' second terms that makes them seem so scandal-ridden? Simple: The iron law of longevity. All governments make mistakes, and all ...

Readers: Skunk Works stinks

Re: Chad Livengood's May 18 report, 'Emails show Snyder aides aware of 'Skunk Works' group':

Letters: Drug tests for welfare users?

Let's also drug test any corporate official of a company getting any kind of tax break.

Use surplus to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads

Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers have to decide what to do with an unexpected $483 million windfall from higher-than-expected tax collections. There are a lot of ...

Obama suffering from loss of trust

Leaving aside the seriousness of lawlessness, and the corruption of our civic culture by the professionally pious, this past week has been amusing. There was ...

Clean up Detroit pension fund

Detroit's pension assets are a big, inviting honey pot. And a lot of folks lately have put their hands in the honey jar. It may be time to put someone else in ...

Commentary: Common Core needs more debate

Parents in Michigan, like those across the country, want their children to have the tools they need to excel in school and beyond. The Common Core national ...

Bad news: We have a surplus

Prosperity is the greatest enemy of fiscal discipline. When fortunes begin to reverse, the urgency to cut spending, find savings and use resources more ...

Editorial: New police chief inherits tough job

Native Detroiter and new Detroit Police Chief James Craig is returning to his hometown to accept his "dream job." His passion is welcome because he inherits a ...

Letters

Pennywise, pound foolish; Reform goes wrong way

Editorial Quick Hits: Bail out of booze business

Hopefully, Michigan has taken a small step toward getting out of the booze business with the Senate’s passing of three bills that expand the list of places ...

Editorial Quick Hits: Other views

David Harsanyi in Reason: The Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups (or, more precisely, groups displaying a bit too much gusto for ...