Latest news with #MackinacPolicyConference
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duggan nets gubernatorial endorsement from Detroit Regional Chamber
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan delivers a keynote address during the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Detroit's powerful regional business organization has thrown its weight behind Mike Duggan's independent bid to be the next governor of Michigan. The Detroit Regional Chamber PAC on Thursday announced that it was endorsing Duggan in the 2026 gubernatorial election. The decision was unanimously reached with a quorum of political action committee members present, the chamber said in a news release. Duggan got the endorsement, the chamber said, because of his proven track record of executive-level business experience prior to his time as mayor, primarily as the leader of the Detroit Medical Center. Duggan was also once on the Detroit Regional Chamber's Board of Directors. 'The Chamber and businesses across the state are growing increasingly concerned about the inability of our political parties to find common ground and move Michigan forward,' Sandy Baruah, Chamber president and CEO, said in a statement. 'Throughout his business and government career, Mike Duggan has proven he can bring people together to work toward common goals. Voters across Michigan are tired of the political infighting; they are clamoring for results-driven leadership, which is exactly what Mike has brought to every leadership position he's held.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That success, the chamber noted, extended to his time as mayor, which has helped Detroit experience revitalization and become a national model for renewal. Detroit's population is growing, the chamber said, and that was thanks to Duggan's leadership. 'Mayor Duggan's tenure in Detroit has been a case study in effective, consistent leadership,' David Foltyn, chairman of the Chamber PAC and the Honigman law firm's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. 'He has demonstrated a unique ability to bring stakeholders together to solve generational challenges. The business community has full confidence that he will bring that same steady hand and relentless focus on results to Lansing, creating the stable, pro-growth environment Michigan needs to compete on a global scale.' A news release issued by the chamber also noted that it was the first business organization to endorse Duggan during his 2013 mayoral write-in campaign, and supported him in his subsequent reelection bids. The chamber has a history of endorsing candidates from both major parties, having endorsed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, in both her 2018 gubernatorial campaign and her 2022 re-election bid, as well former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in his 2014 reelection campaign. However, the organization declined to make an endorsement in the 2024 U.S. Senate race, saying its board could not reach a consensus on whether to support former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) or then-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly). Slotkin ended up winning the election. Duggan as independent will face whomever is nominated by the respective major political parties, who won't be decided until the August 2026 primary. That has given Duggan somewhat of an early opportunity to run a general election-style race early in the cycle. On the Democratic side, Duggan could face Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson or former Cape Coral, Fla., Mayor Marni Sawicki On the Republican side, the Detroit mayor could face U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Portage, former Attorney General Mike Cox, former House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan environmental groups argue Line 5 tunnel project lacks key climate considerations
Protesters gathered near the shore on Mackinac Island in opposition to the Line 5 tunnel project during the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, May 29, 2025. | Kyle Davidson This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. Groups submitting comments on the latest stage of the Line 5 oil pipeline project in Michigan argue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has failed to complete adequate analyses of climate change impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. On May 30, the Corps' Detroit district released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Enbridge Energy Line 5 Tunnel Project, in which energy company Enbridge would construct a 3.6-mile tunnel under the lakebed of the Straits of Mackinac that would house a replacement segment of Line 5, through which Enbridge transports 540,000 barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids. However, experts from the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN), which submitted joint comments on the project on June 30, argue that the draft EIS is inadequate, failing to take climate change into consideration and overlooking potential harms of the project. 'The biggest thing is that the Corps decided to entirely exclude any considerations of greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts that are associated with the tunnel project, and their reasoning for doing this was that it's consistent with the executive order that President Trump issued earlier this year,' said Ellis Walton, an associate attorney at ELPC. ELPC argued that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires a deeper review than the Corps completed. 'NEPA the statute, as well as NEPA precedent … has established that federal agencies should be looking at foreseeable effects of major federal actions, and it's pretty foreseeable that a tunnel project that extends the lifeline of [an oil] pipeline would have foreseeable climate impacts and foreseeably contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change,' Walton said. 'It's so important for the Corps to analyze these climate impacts and understand how we may be harming environmental quality now as well as in the future.' The country is in a moment of rapid upending of environmental rules that experts warn will harm Americans' health and limit public participation in government decisions. Some of the changes affect NEPA, passed in 1970 and often called the 'Magna Carta' of U.S. environmental law. Changes to NEPA rules were issued in late June by agencies including the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Defense and Transportation 'to simplify this overly burdensome process and ensure efficient and timely environmental reviews,' the White House said in a statement at the time. That comes on the heels of a May 29 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gives the federal government more power to decide what to focus on in a NEPA review—and what to leave out. 'Courts should afford substantial deference and should not micromanage those agency choices so long as they fall within a broad zone of reasonableness,' Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote. Keele and Walton said their groups are still reviewing the changes, but both expressed confidence that earlier precedents on NEPA will provide stable grounds for arguing against the project. Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said the company supports and welcomes the public comment process now underway. 'Public and stakeholder input is essential to the integrity of this process, and we look forward to hearing feedback, answering questions, and continuing to engage transparently with all interested parties,' Duffy said in a statement. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said that the project is part of the Trump administration's promise to unleash American energy to promote the economy and security while protecting natural resources. 'Line 5 is great for families in Michigan and Wisconsin, who benefit from quality jobs within the energy industry and lower costs from expanded pipelines,' Kelly said in a statement. In comments to Inside Climate News, the Corps reiterated that it removed the topics of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change from the draft EIS in accordance with the executive orders. The Corps has said since 2023 that it would not evaluate climate impacts from the extraction and use of the pipeline's products in its EIS of the Line 5 project. Although it initially said it would evaluate emissions from tunnel construction and operation, no such evaluation appears in the current draft EIS. In that draft, the agency says greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and environmental justice are 'Not Applicable' for the draft EIS because of Trump's Jan. 20 'Unleashing American Energy' executive order and his move to rescind executive orders signed by Democratic presidents. In the Corps' executive summary of the draft EIS, the terms 'climate change' and 'greenhouse gas emissions' do not appear at all (although the term 'emissions' is included, in each case related to local air quality). Denise Keele, executive director of MiCAN, said her group argues that the energy crisis cited in Trump's executive order is not a true emergency. 'The last time we checked, our fossil fuel industry was making record profits, and I don't think there's an emergency in getting fossil fuels out of the ground,' Keele said, adding that the 'real emergency' is the potential impacts of climate change on human health and the environment that could result if the project is constructed. The Corps also cited Trump's order in April when announcing a truncated timeline for public comment on the project and its draft EIS, giving groups less time to review the statement and submit robust comments on it. The normal comment period is 60 days, and for a project this big it is usually extended up to 90, Keele said. In this case, the period was 30 days. The Line 5 tunnel project has been under scrutiny from lawmakers, environmentalists and tribes in the Great Lakes region for over a decade. In 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the Department of Natural Resources to revoke the permit allowing Enbridge to operate its dual pipelines in the Straits. Enbridge challenged that decision with a lawsuit filed the same year. Attorneys for the state are still seeking to dismiss the challenge. Another ongoing case, filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2019 against Enbridge, argues the 1953 permit for Line 5 was never valid. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would take up the case to determine whether it belongs in state or federal court. Duffy said Enbridge is looking forward to the high court's review. Keele said another concern is the precedent that the project could set should it move forward. If the project is approved without proper analyses of climate change, other companies may have more leeway to cite the project and executive order as reasons for why NEPA considerations aren't necessary, she said. Meanwhile, Keele said, Michigan has been prioritizing a renewable energy economy—it set a goal to generate 60 percent of state electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Moving forward with Line 5, she said, would go against the state's efforts to phase out fossil fuels. 'Michigan already knows it doesn't want to suffer those climate impacts, and we're moving in the other direction,' Keele said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peters offers optimistic outlook for Michigan Dems in 2026 Senate Race
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) at the Mackinac Policy Conference, May 30, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols Following the conclusion of his term in 2027, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) said he plans to remain active in public policy. Earlier this year, Peters, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015, announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, to the shock of many. While sitting down with the Michigan Advance at last month's Mackinac Policy Conference, Peters said his post-Washington plans are still up in the air, but stressed that he's not retiring. 'I'll have a lot more control over my life when I'm not in the Senate, because it gives me a lot more flexibility to do a variety of things. But I'm going to stay active,' Peters said. With a year and a half left in the Senate, Peters said he remains focused on the Great Lakes, specifically on securing funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and additional appropriations for the U.S. National Guard's Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise in Sault Ste. Marie, which he helped establish. Alongside serving in the U.S. Senate, Peters also chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2021 through 2025, with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) taking over the role for the 2026 campaign cycle. While Peter's decision not to run for reelection created uncertainty for Democrats' pathway back to a majority in the Senate, Peters said he's confident his party will retain the seat. 'Actually, that was part of my decision, because I want to make sure that the seat continues to be Democratic,' he said, pointing to two key factors that he said give the Democrats good odds. First, 2026 will be a good year to be a Democrat, Peters said, with the party out of power typically performing better during midterm elections. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'You have that historical precedent. Plus just the increased chaos we're seeing out of the Trump administration will mean that people are going to be voting Democratic, and next year, I think you're going to see that similar to what we saw in the last Trump administration,' Peters said, referencing the 2018 mid-term election where Democrats were able to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In another benefit, Democrats also have a deep bench of candidates, Peters said, noting that while others may declare for candidacy, the four Democratic candidates that have already jumped into the race 'are all very talented people.' The Democratic slate is currently made up of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), former Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) is currently the only Republican candidate, however reports say U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) is also weighing a run, though he has yet to make a formal announcement. That said, Democrats can't take anything for granted as Michigan is set to be a top battleground state, Peters said. 'The challenge for a race – Senate race in particular – when you have a primary is that you don't get your nominee till fairly late into August. And this race, it'll go from zero to 100 miles an hour within hours of the election,' Peters said. However, the 2024 election illustrated a clear divide in the Democratic Party between its moderate members and the more progressive wing, best illustrated by the party's split over Israel and Gaza. When looking for a pathway forward, Peters said Democrats need to remain focused on economic issues like affordable health care, job opportunities and voters' ability to save for and live a dignified retirement. 'All those issues are the most powerful. And you should always be focused on those. And that's not going to change,' Peters said. When you think about the previous presidential election – where former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Trump by just over 80,000 votes – a presidential loss would typically bring a Senate election loss with it, Peters said. However, that didn't happen in Michigan. 'We won here in Michigan. And if you look at Elissa Slotkin's campaign, it was focused on those bread and butter economic issues. We won Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, and Nevada and Arizona and all of those Senate candidates, that's what they focused on. They outperformed the top of the ticket and they won,' Peters said. Democrats still have to work to excite their base and cannot ignore them, but those economic issues are just as important to Democratic voters as they are to independents, Peters said. As President Donald Trump works to radically reshape the federal government, congressional Democrats are tasked with both resisting the president and the Republican majority, and delivering results for their constituents. While bringing home results for constituents is difficult, the Democratic minority has to use its position to call out Republicans' actions and paint a contrast in the minds of voters, Peters said, emphasizing elections are all about contrast. Trump has violated pretty much every major norm of democracy, alongside several laws, Peters said, and while the judicial system has repeatedly been a check on the president, Democrats need to be aggressive in calling that out. 'I think we definitely have to be extremely aggressive in calling out just the blatant corruption we're seeing from the Trump administration,' Peters said, pointing to his decision to accept a $400 million jet as a gift from Qatar as well as his meeting with investors in his cryptocurrency business. 'We can't normalize that in any way, not just for the short term of getting rid of President Trump, but we can't normalize it for future administrations as well. The United States needs to be the place where corruption is never tolerated,' Peters said. However, Democrats still need to walk and chew gum by retaining their focus on the economic issues, Peters said. 'I think those issues too are going to play out as we look at tariffs, which will increase costs. When people start paying more for the everyday goods that they have, they're going to realize that Donald Trump's promise that he was going to lower inflation on day one is not the case,' Peters said. He also pointed to Republican's tax and spending bill, warning the plan would increase the nation's deficit by trillions of dollars, prompting higher interest rates. 'So you pay more for your car, you're going to pay more for your mortgage, your credit card, all those costs as a result of what I believe is completely irresponsible fiscal policy from the Republicans right now,' Peters said. As some Democrats have called on their officials to do more to resist the president, arguing they could do more to be a thorn in Trump's side, Peters said Democratic lawmakers are using the tools they have. While they've been able to use procedures to delay votes on legislation, those efforts are only delays, Peters said. 'We currently live, and I hope we always live, in a democracy and that means the majority rules in a democracy, yep. And if, if the majority have the votes, you can't stop it,' Peters said, noting that Republicans were in a similar position during the first half of former President Joe Biden's term. This is where elections have consequences, Peters said, prompting Democrats to put their energy into next year's election. Given the current political circumstances, Peters predicts Democrats will take back control of the U.S. House in 2026. The chamber is currently split 220-212, with three open seats. 'When you take back the House, then the dynamic changes dramatically in Washington. And Donald Trump, we'll be able to stop him, because he won't be able to pass things through the House,' Peters said. While retaking the Senate would prove more challenging, it's not something Democrats can write off, Peters said. The chamber is currently split 53-45 with two independents Senators, Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Angus King (D-Maine), caucusing with Democrats. While he understands the frustration among activists, Peters reiterated Democrats' limited options. 'You can slow down the majority, but eventually majority wins,' he said.
Axios
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Where Detroit City Council stands on mayoral race
Two Detroit City Council members are running for mayor, and whether any of their seven colleagues on City Council will endorse someone in the race is a big question mark. Why it matters: City Council leaders say the legislative body has created an environment of productive collaboration. Taking sides in a race so close to home, and so important for Detroit's future, could change the dynamic. City Council President Mary Sheffield and council member Fred Durhal III are among nine candidates on the ballot in the Aug. 5 primary. State of play: It's not likely anyone will weigh in soon, but it's on the minds of observers as candidates strive to make their mark in the battle that's been the talk of the town all year. Axios spoke with Sheffield and Durhal and reached out to the other council members or their representatives. Here's what those we heard from had to say: In an interview with Axios at the Mackinac Policy Conference in late May, Sheffield said she thought that discussions about endorsements could happen after the primary — but also that council members were focused on their own reelection bids. "We also have worked extremely hard to keep a very productive and collaborative environment, and I don't want politics to get in the middle of that," she added. Durhal also weighed in during Mackinac: "What I would say is, I don't think they weigh in right now, because one, they're running their own races. Two, you have two sitting members of the council who are running [for mayor] now … I think for them, they ask, 'What is the benefit of doing that?'" Like Sheffield, he told Axios the council had done a good job "building a coalition" and wanted to maintain that cohesiveness and avoid an outside narrative that the council is split. Council member Latisha Johnson tells Axios she will not consider endorsing anyone for mayor. She will need to work collaboratively with whoever wins, she says, and doesn't want to bring unnecessary tension to that work. "I am primarily focused on my race [for reelection] and continuing to work in District 4," she adds. Similarly, council member Mary Waters says that Durhal and Sheffield are both her colleagues, adding, "I'm just going to focus on my race." As for the other members:
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Progressive advocates highlight opposition to annual Mackinac Island conference
Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp., Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Twp., and House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, participate in a PAC reception during the third day of the Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) The Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference is a controversial fixture of Michigan politics. Each year politicians, lobbyists, business representatives and community leaders gather at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island for three days of handshaking, networking and panel discussions aimed at issues like education, housing, economic development and foreign policy. Recent conferences have featured appearances from members of the state's congressional delegation and remarks from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, alongside various politicians, politicos and business leaders such as former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and businessman Mark Cuban. However, the conference has drawn criticism from Detroiters who say the chamber's agenda doesn't match their needs, while activist groups have raised concerns about the influence of corporate money in politics. While media and certain government officials receive complimentary registration, attending the conference carries a multi-thousand dollar price tag, with registration for the 2025 conference coming in at $3,700 for general members of the Detroit Regional Chamber and $4,900 for future members. The conference also carries several big name sponsors including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Rocket Companies and the state's largest energy providers, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Sam Inglot, director of the progressive advocacy group Progress Michigan called the conference 'a petri dish of some of the worst aspects of our political system.' 'Corporate money flooding our politics, exclusive access for only those with money and a lot of self-congratulatory bullcrap from political and lobbying insiders. What do Michiganders actually get out of this performance?' Inglot said in a statement. As part of its monthly Lake Effect Poll, conducted by the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling, Progress Michigan asked 622 Michigan voters between May 30 and May 31, 2025 about their thoughts on the conference. One question states 'these lawmaker trips to Mackinac Island are often funded by corporate lobbyists, who join lawmakers on the island as they make public policy decisions,' before asking voters whether they supported lawmakers traveling to places like Mackinac Island to make policy decisions that impact communities across the state. In response, most voters opposed having their officials travel to the conference, with 44% in strong opposition and 27% saying they somewhat opposed the notion. While Republicans and Democrats offered similar levels of opposition to lawmakers making the trip to Mackinac to talk policy, independents offered the strongest opposition of any subpopulation, with 47% in strong opposition and 27% saying they were somewhat opposed. Another question states 'Every year Michigan lawmakers travel to Mackinac Island, a place accessible only by ferry or private plane, to gather and make important public policy decisions,' before asking voters whether they support officials traveling to the island to make policy decisions. Responses to this question were increasingly split, with 45% of voters offering their opposition – with 25% strongly opposed – compared to 38% in support. The remaining 17% responded they weren't sure of their opinion. While Democrats were more supportive of lawmakers traveling to the island to make policy decisions with 46% offering support, Republicans and independents were more opposed to officials going on policymaking trips. Fifty-one percent of Republicans offered some form of opposition, while 50% of Independent voters were opposed, compared to the 35% of independents in support. 'The more people learn about the Mackinac Policy Conference and the corporate lobbyists who are the engine of it, the less they support it,' Inglot said. 'This is a trend we are seeing across the state, people are fed up with the corporate dominance of our politics. They want to see the money and the corrupting influence it brings out of our political system.' Catia Sabak, the chamber's director of communications said the Detroit Regional Chamber is proud to have led the conference for almost 50 years. 'Other states have tried, and failed, to recreate this special convening of the state's top leadership. It is truly unique in the nation,' Sabak said. 'Despite that the Conference is hosted by a private business organization and hosted on private property, the Chamber's current leadership has made most of the thought leadership shared on the Island available free of charge via a partnership with Detroit PBS and includes over 130 working media from local, state and national outlets, including CNN.' In an emailed statement, Kim Murphy-Kovalick, the senior director of policy for Voters Not Politicians, said Progress Michigan's polling underscores a key point: voters are fed up with the corrupting influence of money in politics. While the conference is great for getting access to lawmakers and political leaders, the people who can afford to make that trip are mostly lobbyists, special interests groups and industry insiders, not voters, Murphy-Kovalick said. Michigan politicians should instead place their focus on representing the voters who are excluded from attending the conference, Murphy-Kovalick said. 'Most everyday people have no insight into how Lansing functions, and this conference is one reason for that. If politicians can't afford to attend on their own dime, how can everyday Michiganders hope to compete with wealthy special interests and corporations for their attention?' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
