MIRS Monday Podcast MIRSnews.com

Last week, the Attorney General announced 13 felony charges against former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield in relation to allegedly using state, campaign and non-profit funds for "self-enrichment." 
Today, MIRS speaks with legal professional Jessica Bartlett on what exactly are 501(c)4 and 527 non-profits, and why it's rare for states to pursue charges involving them (1:15). 
Also, Executive Director Britany Affolter-Caine of the University Research Corridor discusses analysis finding that the state's three major research universities spent more than $1.1 billion in Michigan on goods and services across three fiscal years (20:07). 
Mike Alaimo, the director of environmental and energy affairs for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, describes his organization's concerns surrounding new federal pollution standards for automobiles (40:45). 

Founder Cassy Jones-McBryde of the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice and midwife Nicole Marie White – the director of the MI State Of Birth Justice – describe legislation introduced recently by some Senate Democrats to improve how the state investigates, combats and reports on racial disparities in pregnancy and maternal care (1:20). 
Pamela Pugh, a candidate in Michigan's 8th Congressional district, says she's heard of people in her opponents' camps claiming that because she's a Black woman, she can't win. Also, as president of the State Board of Education, Pamela discusses her continued concerns with the Governor's developing "lifelong education" department (27:21). 
Additionally, a Republican candidate in a Lansing-based state House district explains why he shouldn't be confused with Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo, although their names have identical spelling (50:18). 

State Representatives Penelope Tsernoglou – an East Lansing Democrat – and Kristian Grant, a Grand Rapids Democrat, join MIRS for a legislative roundtable. They discuss why Democrats are continuing to focus on abortion and reproductive issues this election cycle, although former President Donald Trump has not endorsed a federal abortion ban proposal (1:22).
Should Michigan drop the state's gas tax in exchange for charging drivers a mileage-based user fee?  Chief Executive Officer Denise Donohue and Deputy Director Ed Noyola of the Michigan County Road Association explain why they want the Legislature to consider the mileage-based user fee idea this year (23:52). 
President Vanessa Keesler of Launch Michigan – a public education reform group – describes a new dashboard her organization created, comparing Michigan school districts to their counterparts in states that perform highly in education (48:16). 
 
 

Director Dave Dulio of the Oakland University Center for Civic Engagement and reporter Russ McNamara of Detroit's public radio and NPR station describe the issues Democrats and Republicans are honing in on this spring (2:02).
The MIRS team was also joined by Republican commissioners Rhonda Lange and Erin Wagner of the state's citizens redistricting commission. The panel recently changed 15 state House districts in response to federal judges, ruling that several Detroit area districts they first adopted were racially gerrymandered.  But Lange and Wagner have some concerns about how the do-over went down (30:28).
State Representative Andrew Fink, an Osseo Republican, explains why he believes talks on immigration status are inescapable when it comes to a man arraigned last week on felony murder charges in Grand Rapids. The man was a Mexican citizen, was reportedly in the country illegally and admitted to shooting his girlfriend multiple times in the head (55:09). 

When it comes to the Republican primary for Michigan's U.S. Senate race, candidate Mike Rogers – a past chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee – says "this thing is done" (1:23). 
The share of likely GOP primary voters supporting Rogers grows from 27 percent to 67 percent after they learn he is backed by past President Donald Trump, according to one March survey. 
MIRS is also joined by Executive Director Cheryl Bergman of the Michigan Women's Commission. She discusses the latest report on women in Michigan's labor force, which found that women working full-time earned around 81 cents on the dollar compared to men 2022 (15:23). 
State Representative Bill G. Schuette – a Midland Republican – describes how as the latest chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee, he projects Republicans will win "north of 56" seats in the state House in November. In 2022, Democrats won a 56-seat majority in the House (36:28). 

Last week, a Senate committee moved bills requiring the Governor and state legislators to respond to public records requests through Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.
Meanwhile, some House Democrats introduced still more transparency bills involving 501(c)4 or 527 accounts not regulated by Michigan's campaign finance laws. 
Executive Director Nick Pigeon of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network and Lisa McGraw, the public affairs manager of the Michigan Press Association, join the MIRS team to discuss the transparency proposals (1:34).
Also, Stephanie Jones, the founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance, details why her organization supports legislation authorizing surrogacy contracts in the state. Currently, state statute views surrogate parentage contracts as void and unenforceable (29:23). 
MIRS was also joined by Director Julia Dale of Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency. She explains how a lack of resources makes it difficult to recover money lost to fraudulent claims made during the COVID-19 pandemic (49:12).