Read Our Stories

Drawing on our extensive experience in government and politics, our stories illuminate the path to progress through unity and collaboration.

Authored by former Democrat and Republican elected leaders, agency and department directors, journalists, lobbyists, legislative staffers, business leaders, and more, these stories highlight bipartisan achievements and policy victories. Join us in reading, reflecting, and respecting differing viewpoints. Let’s foster open dialogue and work together for a better Michigan.
featured story
In 1992 Michigan voters elected 55 Democrats and 55 Republicans to the state House of Representatives. So the House could function, a plan for shared power was adopted by co-House Speakers Democrat Curtis Hertel and Republican Paul Hillegonds that turned out to be magic. What could have been an operational brick wall and gridlock instead became an open, productive two-year legislative session. Two outstanding leaders made it happen.

Read Our Stories

 

Category descriptions

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.

In many facets of life we often hear, “it will never work. It’s like oil and water.” In the legislative process some constituencies and groups seem like they could never stand even being in the same room together, let alone working out difficult legislation. But it does happen, and in the end many of the opposing individuals and groups come away with a new respect for their opposition. Here are some of their stories.

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.

Covering Michigan politics has changed dramatically in recent years. For one thing, the level of vitriol aimed at political journalists today is more intense than it was “back in the day,” although hostility toward the media by politicians and even parts of the general public has always been with us.
Leadership sometimes requires hard and unpopular decisions – particularly when the state is at a crossroads.
The political landscape can look pretty depressing these days. A veteran of 40 years in Lansing, John Cherry looks at history and then the next generation to find some optimism.
Too often in today’s politics we hear insults and harsh words – the kind that make comity difficult. A Republican executive with a Democrat-controlled Michigan Legislature, Bill Milliken took a different approach and found results.
Introduction by Michael Ranville
I’m often asked how a liberal Democrat like me could for years play Sancho Panza to a Republican Don Quixote like Joe Schwarz? To some degree the answer is simple. We share a love of history, political history in particular. He’s fun to be around, has a great sense of humor that is complemented by a hearty, guttural laugh. He refuses to sacrifice good public policy on the altar of partisanship. He possesses a rare sense of loyalty not readily seen in political circles.
Title IX was major civil rights legislation approved by the U.S. Congress that continues to have a significant impact on women and girls in the United States. But even years after the federal law passed, major challenges were still being pushed to limit Title IX’s effect. You might be surprised who worked together in the U.S. Congress to protect Title IX when some special interest groups wanted it abolished or weakened.
This is a story about how two dedicated, caring state lawmakers from polar opposite ends of the political universe came together to pass legislation that will affect millions of Michigan citizens over time: Laws that address right to die, hospice care, and durable power of attorney.
If there is one person in or around the Michigan Capitol who epitomizes the importance of networking to bring trust and joint understanding to the problem-solving process, it is Dennis Muchmore. He has been through it all—successfully. His often humorous recollection of the naming of the new bridge spanning the Detroit River between Canada and the United States shows how mutual trust can resolve so many issues.
Few people we know possess Bob LaBrant’s amazing memory for detail, and his depth of understanding of the political process. When there is a laudable goal, such as creating the Michigan Political Leadership Program, he doesn’t let a few barriers stand in the way of success.
The Michigan Education Trust (MET) was the nation’s first state-administered pre-paid college tuition program. Over time, it has been one of the most popular education programs ever passed by the Michigan Legislature and signed into law. Over 115,000 people have purchased MET prepaid college tuition contracts since the program started in 1986. However, passage was no slam dunk. Here’s how it became law in Michigan.
Nell Kuhnmuench weaves a remarkable story about how Marge Malarney ascended the often-unsteady Michigan Capitol ladder to become a legendary and highly regarded lobbyist for the city of Detroit for over 20 years. Intelligence, knowledge of the process, and flat-out hard work were all at play. This was at a time when women had to double prove they could do the job.
During his tenure as an elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives, Paul Hillegonds served as minority leader, then co-speaker (55-55 tie), and then as full speaker. In his thoughtful commentary on leadership, he lays out precise qualities all prospective legislative leaders should try to attain. He highlights the need for trust to help forge common ground and good public policy. This commentary should be read by every candidate for legislative office.
When he was the Republican leader of the Michigan House Representatives, Paul Hillegonds wrote a moving tribute in honor of his recently deceased friend and colleague, former state Rep. Jim Dressel (R-Holland). He shows how true leaders never quit learning and growing.
Legislative leadership is complicated. It is not just about winning elections and raising money. It is actually about helping all Michigan citizens have the opportunity to lead more productive lives. Dennis Cawthorne, a former Michigan House Republican leader, outlines in detail what legislative leaders need to do to maximize their opportunities.
Rewriting a complex and antiquated Michigan state law that had become almost unworkable would seem to be a logical task for the legislature and the affected groups to simply sit down and complete. Not so. The process was arduous, but after nearly two decades of failure, a bipartisan group formed to craft a solution.
Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas M. Kavanagh, a giant in state politics, was my first employer in my political career. It would be hard to imagine a finer mentor and person to set you off on your new career path.

Talk With Us

To offer your stories, email info@migoodgovernment.com
Who We Are:

Fritz Benson
Michael Ranville

Special thanks to:

Roger Martin
David Waymire
Kathy Barks Hoffman

Index of contributors; list of coming articles