Romney should preach dad’s sermon

Mitt Romney says the greatest influence on his life, both personally and politically, is his late father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney. I hope the GOP presidential front-runner has in his files somewhere an essay his dad wrote in 1992 and placed as an advertisement in The Detroit News and other papers.

Commentary: Same-sex marriage battle lingers

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has a hard-won reputation for issuing sweeping, precedent-setting and liberal rulings that are often overturned by the more conservative U.S. Supreme Court.

Inkster elementary school aims high

Inkster’s Baylor-Woodson has gained national attention by focusing on strong teaching, proving poverty and race don’t have to be barriers to success.

Editorial: Michigan students keep falling behind

A new report from the Michigan-based Education Trust-Midwest makes some things about the state’s education system alarmingly clear. As other states have moved ahead with reforms and progressed academically, Michigan has stood still or fallen behind. The state’s schools must make the tough decisions that will give all children access to a solid education.

Commentary: Keep politics off our state’s license plates

They were swiftly dubbed Vanity Plates when, in 1931, the state of Pennsylvania offered drivers the option to order their annual auto license plates custom-made, to sport initials, names or nicknames; anyone who had better things to waste money on assumed anyone who wanted to put their personal stamp on anything but a race car had to have an outsized ego.

Commentary: U.S. Senate should adopt a budget

Around kitchen and boardroom tables across the state, Michigan families and businesses are figuring out their budgets for the year, deciding where to cut, where to grow and what should stay the same. Unlike these responsible Americans, Debbie Stabenow and other Senate Democrats have decided to fly blind. In fact, it has been more than 1,000 days since Senate Democrats passed a budget.

Letter: New insurance law isn’t needed

Many insurance companies contract with auto body shops and glass replacement facilities in direct repair programs to repair policyholders’ vehicles more quickly and inexpensively. Direct repair programs are strictly an option and consumers are not required to use them.

Letters: Obama’s policies debated

President Obama hardly finished his hard-hitting State of the Union address before Republicans again said no to all his proposals. He clearly defined the choice Americans must make between his policy of government investment in America and the Republican policy of restricting government. It’s time to say yes to another term for Obama and no to those who know all the answers.

Today’s shout-out ... goes to the Salvation Army

... for raising a record $8.2 million during its holiday Red Kettle Campaign in Metro Detroit. Of course, the nonprofit’s Eastern Michigan Division couldn’t reach its goal without the generosity of area residents and businesses. Quicken Loans and its employees alone contributed nearly $90,000. Those that heeded the signature ringing bell will help fund the organization’s services throughout the year.

Editorial: Tax hikes will slow growth

Denying the impact of taxes on the economy should be a lot harder for lawmakers, now that the Congressional Budget Office has spelled it out in the most precise terms.

Commentary: California air board tightens screws on the automakers

It didn’t take long. A scant seven months after the Obama administration proposed a 54 miles-per-gallon fuel economy average for cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. by 2025, the state of California has countered with an even more draconian set of mandates for the auto companies.

No surprises in this White House

It’s unusual when a reporter sympathetic to a politician writes a story that makes his subject look bad. But Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker has now done this twice.

Michigan politicians face political risk in fighting unions

Already this year, state lawmakers have opened brutal new fronts in the war on workers. And America’s workers are fighting back as never before.

Today’s protests are vague and feeble

A few weeks ago, a 22-year-old man named Jefferson Bethke produced a video called “Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus.”

Letter: Electric cars provide a choice

Letters: Snyder road taxes debated

Editorial: Choose neutrality for license plates

Commentary: Mitt Romney needs a translator

Commentary: New patent office signals region’s role in innovation

Cornelius suicide shows the urgency of treatment

U.S. should aid in toppling Syrian president and Iran ally Assad

Letter: Safelite honors consumer choice

Letters: Electric car controversies

Editorial: Pull back on union legislation

Plan in place for better Ecorse

Regulations are muzzling free speech

Finley: If life’s cheap, murder’s not news

Editorial: Romney risks talking his way out of race

Letters