Read Our Stories

It is a difficult reach for many groups and voters to accept that numerous tough legislative challenges often take years to accomplish. But we live in a democracy where many constituencies must be considered in these negotiations. That is why the complete rewrite of the state’s Workers Compensation/Unemployment Insurance took so long. In the end we achieved one of the strongest WC/UI systems in the country. The difficult negotiations were totally worth the time and effort spent.

Trust and open communication are absolute keys in our continuing democratic journey. These stories show this dynamic over and over.

The following stories and commentaries detail what effective legislative leadership entails. The authors have successfully navigated in their professional careers both the personal obstacles in dealing with their cohorts, and the intricacies of the legislative process in crafting necessary laws and regulations.

Many of them were known for their tough negotiating skills, but at the same time they were optimistic in their ability to reach conclusions that helped all Michigan citizens.

All of us have known outstanding individuals in and around the political and legislative process who have influenced our professional and personal lives in many positive ways. In this section our contributors have highlighted some of these people and tell why they have had such an impact on them.

We have included this section to emphasize the importance of listening and learning from those around us that we know and respect. The knowledge and experience we then assimilate will be used again and again in our own critical decision making.

We are not saying these individuals are necessarily the very best people ever to be around the Capitol arena. Our contributors have tried to show through their stories how these mentors and friends had such an impact on their own notable careers. It is understandable, then, that this list could have hundreds of deserving individuals.

It is hard to imagine a more important skill in an effective democratic form of government than networking. To develop and nurture honest, open communication not only helps to navigate the often treacherous partisan waters of the legislative and administrative process, it also is of great help for all citizens who actually benefit from creative, bipartisan problem solving. What a concept!

Today, this networking appears to be a lost art. It is frowned upon to interact at all with the other side of the aisle. Both sides are to blame. Camaraderie and collaboration are not dirty words. They are part of the basic pillars of our society.

The following stories by our contributors emphasize both in serious and humorous ways how networking can and has worked in developing critical relationships that are so important in helping our system achieve the economic and social goals our citizens deserve.

Holding politicians and government accountable is one of the essential roles of a free press. The Founding Fathers, all politicians working to write the foundational laws and principles of our nation, believed so strongly in the need for freedom of the press that they wrote press protections into the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, ahead of all other rights and freedoms. Indeed, one of the Founding Fathers, Samuel Adams, was a journalist who published frequently in colonial newspapers.

Journalists have been covering Michigan government and elected leaders for as long as there has been a Michigan, fulfilling their “watchdog” role and serving as vital resources for an informed electorate. While publishing many accounts of scandal and failure, reporters who have served in the state Capitol Press Corps have seen far more good people, seeking to do good, than bad in state government. In this section you will read stories from former and current political journalists about good people, and people doing good, in Michigan government.