Lansing Sun

In its recently released policy priorities for 2021, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy has placed emphasis on ending corporate welfare, expanding options for students and removing unnecessary regulations.

The intent of the Center’s 2021 Policy Recommendations is to help guide lawmakers in making implementation and reform decisions. Many of those recommendations are informed by problems within the system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as elements within temporary actions that demonstrated ways in which reforms could improve current regulatory frameworks.

One example given is the temporary halt to scope-of-practice and certificate-of-need laws enacted by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in order to eliminate some regulatory roadblocks within the health care system.

“This allowed medical providers and practitioners to best serve the needs of their patients without unnecessary regulatory hurdles,” the Mackinac Center’s post states. “These restrictions should continue to be suspended during public health emergencies to relieve stress on the overall system and considered for more permanent loosening or repeal.”

At the same time, the Mackinac Center cautions against opening the floodgates on corporate welfare in the name of pandemic stimulus.

In the midst of calls to offset economic losses through the use of public funds, calls to give special attention to industries and corporations require closer examination. “Ineffective corporate welfare programs are harmful to Michigan’s overall business climate,” the Mackinac Center says.

And while concerns over the effect of the economic crisis could lead to discussions of increasing taxes to offset presumed revenue losses, the Mackinac Center says that the state’s revenue has actually grown during the pandemic, and taxpayers are not financially stable enough to shoulder any additional burden.

"Taxpayers, including countless businesses, have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic and government shutdowns, and policymakers should not add to that suffering with higher taxes,” according to the Mackinac Center.