Latest news with #MackinacCenter
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NCLA Asks Sixth Circuit to Revive Suit Over Dept. of Education's Illegal Student Loan Payment Pause
Mackinac Center for Public Policy v. U.S. Department of Education; Sec'y of Education Linda McMahon, in her official capacity; and James Bergeron, Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid, in his official capacity Washington, DC, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an opening brief today asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reverse a district court's dismissal, for lack of standing, of our Mackinac Center for Public Policy v. Dept. of Education lawsuit against the Department's unlawfully forgiving 35 months of interest on student loans. Without any statutory authority, the Department extended Congress's original six-month interest forgiveness and payment suspension for nearly three more years, cancelling debt in violation of the Constitution's Appropriations Clause at a cost of at least $175 billion to taxpayers, harming the Mackinac Center in the process. This scheme injures public-service employers like Mackinac by reducing the financial incentives for (potential) employees to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The Sixth Circuit should decide Mackinac does have standing and require the district court to hear the case on the merits against the Department's unlawful policy. Established by Congress, the PSLF program allows employees to have their student-loan debt forgiven after ten years of work with one or more public-service employers. When the Department excused debtors from paying interest on their loans, it decreased—dollar for dollar—the wage subsidy the program promised to public-service employers like the Mackinac Center, making it more expensive for them to keep compensating their PSLF employees at the same level. The economic harm caused by the Department's unlawfully excusing student-loan debtors from honoring their obligations is enough, on its own, to require the government to answer for its actions in court. But in addition to that, the Department's lawless decisions also skewed the labor market in a way that frustrates the congressionally-designed PSLF program, increases the cost for the Mackinac Center to compete for college-educated employees, and costs taxpayers billions. The Department caused these injuries, and now the Court of Appeals should make sure it must answer for them. NCLA released the following statements: 'Governmental agencies cannot blithely ignore the law without expecting to answer for the harm their unlawful actions cause organizations like the Mackinac Center. We trust the Court of Appeals will make that clear to the Department of Education.'— Daniel Kelly, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA 'The Department of Education under Secretary McMahon should settle this case. What possible reason does it have to keep defending the lawless regime instituted by former Secretary Miguel Cardona and Richard Cordray to forgive student-loan debt—or in this case interest on that debt—without authority from Congress?'— Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA For more information visit the case page here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLA's public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans' fundamental rights. ### CONTACT: Joe Martyak New Civil Liberties Alliance 703-403-1111 in to access your portfolio
Wall Street Journal
23-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
A Lawsuit to Seal Michigan's Pork Barrel
Michigan's constitution is supposed to make it hard to earmark money to pet projects, but patronage always tries to find a way. The state's latest budget includes nearly $1 billion for parochial interests. But now there's a lawsuit asking the courts to step in and say no. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy sued Michigan's labor department Tuesday, arguing that the budget tramples legal restrictions on earmarks. The state constitution that voters approved in 1963 requires two-thirds of legislators to approve any public money spent for local or private purposes. Lawmakers thumb their noses at the substance of that provision by using write-arounds.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mackinac Center sues Michigan over ‘pork-barrel' spending
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The has filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Labor, challenging the legality of pork-barrel spending. Pork-barrel refers to the legislative practice of slipping funding for a local project into a broader budget, even when the project may have little or nothing to do with the larger bill. The Mackinac Center says they are an independent, nonprofit research and educational institute based in Midland, Michigan. The center says this spending is 'often hidden from public scrutiny, disproportionately benefits legislative districts controlled by the majority party.' They say that Michigan's Constitution states that funds directed towards a specific local or private program must receive two-thirds support. They say legislators have ignored this requirement in passing recent budgets, 'undermining safeguards put in place to prevent political patronage and corruption.' 'Michigan's budget process fell short of the transparency and accountability that taxpayers deserve,' said Patrick Wright, Vice President for Legal Affairs at the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, in a news release sent to 6 News. 'Too often, decisions were made behind closed doors, shaped by political connections rather than the broader public interest. Greater transparency and following the supermajority voting requirement would help ensure that state spending reflects the priorities of all Michigan residents, not just a few,' added Wright. The cites two baseball stadiums, Jimmy John's Field in Utica and Jackson Field in Lansing, worth $1.5 million and $1 million, respectively. The lawsuit also cites money being used to fund , a , a , labor unions, a , developers, donors, and private organizations favored by lawmakers as examples of pork-barrel spending. 'The funding was clearly aimed at those local entities and did not receive the necessary two-thirds approval from lawmakers,' said the Mackinac Center in a news release sent to 6 News. The Mackinac Center's lawsuit seeks to 'restore fiscal accountability and ensure that taxpayer dollars are allocated through a transparent and constitutional process (and) to uphold the integrity of Michigan's budgeting process and prevent further abuse of public funds.' Mackinac Center lawsuitDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee should invest more in prison education. Here's why
Tennessee houses approximately 22,000 individuals in its prison system, and each year thousands are released to reintegrate into society. But while Tennessee has made strides in reducing its recidivism rate—now at a decade-low of 29.6%, as of 2023—the question remains: how can we continue this progress while saving taxpayer dollars? One solution is clear: investing in prison education. Recent research highlights education's critical role in reducing recidivism, improving employment prospects, and benefiting the broader economy. Yet, Tennessee ranks 16th in the nation for prison education programs, scoring 4.25 out of 7 in a recent Mackinac Center study. This suggests that Tennessee has room for improvement and even an opportunity to lead the nation. Expanding prison education isn't just the right thing to do; it's also a smart economic choice. With Tennessee spending an average of $111.53 per day, or over $40,000 annually, to house an inmate, and recidivism leading to increased incarcerations, taxpayers shoulder a burden of hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Reducing recidivism by even 10% could save the state tens of millions annually. According to our research, Are Schools in Prison Worth It? inmates participating in education programs are less likely to re-offend and more likely to secure employment upon release. Vocational training, for instance, can reduce recidivism by 9.4%, and college education yields a remarkable 27.7% decrease. These programs offer substantial returns on investment, saving taxpayer dollars by lowering reincarceration costs and increasing economic contributions through employment. Opinion: Gov. Bill Lee's first veto is smart on crime, and courageous Tennessee has already taken steps to reduce recidivism, such as implementing evidence-based programming and risk assessments. Expanding prison education builds on these important efforts, reallocating resources toward programs proven to break cycles of incarceration. A roadmap for improvement is laid out in our work, How States Can Improve Education Programs in Prisons, identifying four key policy recommendations: Automatic Enrollment: Mandating that inmates without a high school diploma or literacy proficiency be enrolled in education programs. This approach addresses the disproportionately low education levels among incarcerated individuals, a factor contributing to their struggles post-release. Centralized Administration: Establishing a dedicated state office to oversee prison education programs, ensuring quality and equitable access across facilities. Evidence shows that states with centralized oversight provide more comprehensive and consistent educational opportunities. Incentives for Completion: Offering sentence reductions for inmates who complete educational milestones creates a win-win scenario for the inmate and the state, reducing costs and increasing public safety. Research and Evaluation: Regular evaluations of prison education programs are needed to assess their effectiveness and report on key outcomes such as recidivism reduction, employment rates, and cost savings. Tennessee can use this data to ensure programs meet goals and guide future investments. These steps aren't theoretical. States like Ohio and California have made significant strides in implementing prison education programs, leading to measurable reductions in recidivism and improved post-release outcomes. Tennessee can join these leaders by prioritizing prison education as a cornerstone of its rehabilitation strategy. Beyond the statistics, prison education restores dignity and hope, equipping individuals to build better futures. It transforms lives by giving inmates the tools they need to break free from cycles of crime and poverty, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society. For Tennessee, this isn't just an investment in individuals; it's a commitment to safer neighborhoods, reduced taxpayer burdens, and a stronger economy. By reallocating resources to programs that work, Tennessee can lead the nation in effective rehabilitation and criminal justice reform. Ben Stickle is a Professor of Criminal Justice Administration and Steven Sprick Schuster is an Associate Professor of Economics, both at Middle Tennessee State University. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Prison education should be a priority in Tennessee | Opinion
