With a potential government shutdown looming, Michigan’s Republican-led House unveiled and quickly approved a $78.5 billion budget plan that would slash spending and state workers but boost road funding.
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Michigan ballot initiative aims to reveal ‘dark money’ donors behind political ads
A potential Michigan ballot proposal would force state-level ‘dark money’ advertisers near elections to disclose their donors.
Posted inUncategorized
In Michigan first, independent Mike Duggan leads governor fundraising race
Fundraising alone does not win elections but can signal a candidate’s organizational strength and ability to run an aggressive campaign.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Michigan GOP moves against ranked choice voting as petition drive gears up
Ranked choice voting allows voters to select candidates in order of preference.
Posted inElection 2025
Michigan petition summer: What to know about voting, tax, wage proposals before you sign
Petitions include plans to implement ranked choice voting, tax on the wealthy to fund schools and end a lower minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers
Posted inPolice & Public Safety
As resistance grows, Michigan Dems disagree on path to ‘take back our country’
Six months into Trump’s second term, Democratic officials are at odds over how to rehabilitate their party’s image and shape its response to Trump’s sweeping political project ahead of 2026 elections that will decide Michigan’s next governor, an open US Senate seat, the state Legislature, Congress and more.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Time to rewrite the Michigan Constitution? Voters will decide 2026 ballot proposal
In the 62 years since the current constitution was ratified in 1963, voters have approved 39 of 85 amendments.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Michigan SOS Jocelyn Benson violated campaign finance law — but won’t be punished
Benson violated state law when she moved her gubernatorial campaign press conference into a Secretary of State building, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel, a fellow Democrat.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Ex-Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate jumps into US Senate race
Joe Tate says he’s running to “lay a foundation for the next generation of Michiganders.” He joins a Democratic primary field that already includes Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed and Mallory McMorrow.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Pet project day in Lansing: Lawmakers seek $3.3B for pools, roads and more
Legislators are jockeying to spend big in their districts, filing 800 requests to spend millions on everything from teachers and museums to youth programs, agriculture and bridges.