Written by: Matt Grossmann
Primary Source: Michigan Policy Wonk Blog, May 9, 2016
Our weekly round-up of policy-relevant reads and IPPSR-connected research.
Problems:
- Obama’s Trip to Poisoned Flint Spotlights Economic Inequality (link is external). Following President Obama’s visit to Flint on May 4th, State of the State Survey results are cited in the event’s coverage.
- When is $500 million worth nothing? (link is external) The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board comments on the recently passed plan to save Detroit Public Schools, and quotes 2014 Legislative Leadership Program’s Speaker and Detroit’s mayor, Mike Duggan.
- Michigan’s Snyder Under Siege Over Racial Impact of Policy (link is external). Associated Press story quotes IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann on Gov. Snyder’s success in Detroit and challenges in Flint.
Policy:
- Michigan looks to lead on regulation of autonomous vehicles (link is external). A package of bills, some introduced last week and others planned for the future, hopes to make Michigan a leader.
- Not so fast: A bill to raise state speed limits veers off track (link is external). A review of research performed for the Michigan Department of Transportation may slow down legislation that wants to raise speeds on the state’s biggest freeways.
- Lawmakers Get Into LGBTQ Rights Dispute (link is external). Michigan Political Leadership Program alum Nathan Triplett is quoted on transgender bathroom disputes.
Politics:
- The Republican Trump Meltdown and the Fight Over the Democratic Party’s Future (link is external). Jonathan Chait cites party asymmetry research by IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann to understand changes in the party coalitions.
- They’re Still Not Telling the Real Story (link is external). Paul Rosenberg cites the same party asymmetry research to predict future changes in the Republican and Democratic parties.
- Education, Law, and Detroit (link is external). IPPSR co-sponsored a forum at the Michigan State University Law School.
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Matt Grossmann serves as the Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and Associate Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University. His research spans national and state policymaking, election campaigns, interest groups, and political parties. His current work explores key differences between major political parties and economic inequality in policy influence. He is the author of Artists of the Possible: Governing Networks and American Policy Change Since 1945, published by Oxford University Press in 2014 and The Not-So-Special Interests: Interest Groups, Public Representation, and American Governance, published by Stanford University Press in 2012. He is author of numerous journal articles on such topics as policy change, political party networks, the legislative process and public opinion. His research appears in the Journal of Politics, Policy Studies Journal, Perspectives on Politics, American Politics Research and other publications. He also writes for blogs and popular media. His roots are also deep in practical politics, especially in candidate training, policy and survey research. His experience includes work at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, the Institute of Governmental Studies, the Center for Voting and Democracy and the Center for Democracy and Technology. A member of MSU’s faculty since 2007, he is founder and director of the Michigan Policy Network and served as liaison to MSU’s Washington Semester Program. He received his bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College, his master’s in political science in 2002 and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2007. He became IPPSR director in January 2016.

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